Schlesinger named as new Reuters editor-in-chief

David Schlesinger has been announced as the new editor-in-chief of Reuters.

As of January, current editor in chief Geert Linnebank will move to a new “broadened role” as special advisor to the chief executive. Schlesinger is currently global managing editor and effectively Linnebank’s deputy.

Reuters chief executive Tom Glocer said: “Geert has led editorial through a period of great change, laying strong new foundations for Reuters' continued success. No one has served Reuters journalism better and more faithfully during this period than Geert.

“I am particularly glad that I will continue to work closely with Geert and receive his counsel on a variety of issues core to our editorial operation. He will remain an important ambassador for Reuters and its editorial values, particularly in the international arena.”

Schlesinger – who is American – has been global managing editor and head of editorial operations since 2003.
He moved to London in 2004 and has been responsible for managing day-to-day the 2,400 editorial staff in text, television and pictures. He previously ran editorial in North, Central and South America and was financial editor for the Americas.

Schlesinger – who is fluent in Chinese – began his career with Reuters in Hong Kong and ran the company’s China reporting operations before overseeing editorial in the Americas and then globally from Reuters head office in London.

Geert will continue as chairman of the Reuters Foundation and represent the company in its academic initiatives at both the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University and the Reuters Digital Vision Programme at Stanford University.