The Booker Prize Foundation has announced the death of its literary director, Ion Trewin. He passed away on Wednesday, at the age of 71. Trewin, who has served as literary director of the foundation since 2006, was diagnosed with an untreatable cancer in October of last year.
The former literary editor of the Times, Trewin also worked at Weidenfeld & Nicolson, as publishing director, managing director and finally editor-in-chief until his retirement in 2006.
Trewin's involvement with the Booker Prize began in 1974, when he chaired the judging panel of the prize. In 1989, he became a member of its management committee (which in 2002 became the Advisory Committee of the Booker Prize Foundation). In 2006, he succeeded Martyn Goff as administrator (the role which has now become the literary director of the Foundation), and also as chair of the Advisory Committee. Goff passed away on March 25 at the age of 91.
"Ion will be sadly missed not only by his many, many friends but also more widely in the literary world," said Jonathan Taylor, chair of the trustees of the Booker Prize. "His calm, courteous and avuncular demeanor masked a sharp intelligence, shrewd diplomatic skills, a great sense of humor and huge knowledge of and affection for books and book people.
Taylor continued, "In his years as administrator and subsequently as literary director, he helped guide the Man Booker Prize through evolution and development while ensuring stability, continuity and, most important, an effective, efficient, independent judging process."
The Trustees of the Booker Prize Foundation have confirmed they will announce Trewin's successor in the near future. Fiammetta Rocco, administrator of the Man Booker International Prize, will take on Trewin's role for the remaining 2015 Man Booker Prize cycle.
