Breaking: Major London agent calls time on the business
mainThe veteran conductors’ agent Linda Marks is hanging up her baton.
Linda, who has mentored untold numbers of Finnish prospects at HarrisonParrott, has some personal issues to attend to and is ready to move on to the next phase of her life.
She will be missed – not just by the artists who pestered her morning, noon and night, but by the rest of the business where she was liked and respected for her integrity and straightforwardness. Her word could always be trusted.
Her conductors included Edo De Waart, David Zinman, Lawrence Foster, Sakari Oramo, Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Hannu Lintu.
The official statement:
Linda Marks, Executive Vice-Chairman at HarrisonParrott, has decided that the time has come for her to step back from her current role so that she can take some time out for a nice long break and spend more quality time with her family as well as pursuing other interests.
She will leave HarrisonParrott at the end of June 2019 but will continue to work fully with everyone as normal until then and participate actively in managing the transition and succession for her artists, a process which is well underway with the Directors and Associate Directors.
Jasper Parrott, Executive Chairman, comments: “Linda has very specifically asked that she should be free to take a good break but all at HarrisonParrott very much hope to be able to find the right way to continue to have access to her incredible knowledge and experience in a different capacity in the future as a member of the extended HarrisonParrott family.
Her contribution to HarrisonParrott, to the artists and to the industry has been immense and incalculable and is widely recognised as such not only by all at HarrisonParrott but internationally throughout our profession. Speaking for myself her wisdom, empathy, wit and business acuity over the 40 years we have worked together have been towers of strength for which I shall always be grateful. She will be greatly missed.”
Linda Marks comments: “It has been a great honour and privilege for me to be part of the wonderful HarrisonParrott family for what amounts to over half my life. Jasper has been a great inspiration not only to me but to many colleagues and to so many in our business. I shall greatly miss all my dear colleagues and artists and wish them every possible success in the future. So I hope it’s ‘au revoir’ not goodbye”.
Linda is and will always be one of the most respected managers in the music industry. As far back as 1988, I have known Linda and, although we did not have an artist/manager situation, there had been times when we shared conversations and emails when the internet came into existence. She always returned promptly and offered good advice and sound expertise. I wish her only the best in the next chapters of her life journey.
Truly one of the classiest, most knowledgeable, and effective people in our business. Sorry she is bowing out. But richly deserving of the reward of the time she will gain.
Norman; your comments about Linda are absolutely correct. She’s a fine person and great agent. It has been a joy to work with her over the years.
Back in the 1980s I had the pleasure of occasionally meeting Linda in Penzance Place to discuss artists. She was always extremely professional and such a pleasure to work with. Best wishes for the future, Linda.
I think many of us deeply regret Linda Marks’ decision to leave her active life as an artist agent. But it is also understandable after so many years as a lighthouse among agents.
Linda has always been sensitive about the presenter’s wishes and at the same time considering and representing the interests of her artists in the best possible way.
Linda has for many of us not only been an agent, but also a very good friend. I wish her and Alan, Linda’s husband, many wonderful years at home, on the golf course and at several great concerts.
Besides that: Linda’s cooking home in Pinner is excellent!