New FT
editor Lionel Barber has been with the paper for 20 years, most
recently as US managing editor – a job he was moved to by Gowers in
2002.
He will edit the paper from the US until Christmas and plans to return to London full time in January.
Barber
graduated from Oxford University with joint honours in German and
Modern History. He began his journalism career in 1978 as a reporter on
The Scotsman and joined The Sunday Times in 1981 as a business reporter.
At
the FT, his roles have included Washington correspondent and US editor
(1986-1992), Brussels bureau chief (1992-1998), news editor (1998-
2000) and editor of the FT’s European edition (2000-2002).
Parent
company Pearson’s chief executive Marjorie Scardino said: “Lionel is an
outstanding journalist and editor with a passion for business and a
global instinct sharpened by his senior roles in the UK, Europe and
America.
“He has the vision, talent and experience to lead the FT through its next phase of growth, in print and online.”
Barber said: “Around the world, the FT’s reputation has never been higher.
Accurate,
credible and thoughtful news, comment and analysis have always been the
FT’s hallmark and the source of our special relationship with readers.”
Quoting
Sir Gordon Newton, FT editor from 1949 to 1972, he said that the paper
would continue to provide authoritative journalism for “the people who
make decisions in business, finance and public affairs around the
world”.
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