Lionel Barber is a writer and broadcaster and the author of The Powerful and the Damned: Private Diaries in Turbulent Times. Between 2005 and 2020, he served as editor of the Financial Times. During his tenure, the FT transformed itself from a print-led newspaper into a global, multichannel news organisation, winning multiple awards for its journalism. These include UK Newspaper of the Year three times, as well as Overseas Press Club, Gerald Loeb and Society of Publishers in Asia awards.
Lionel has co-written several books and lectured widely on foreign affairs, international economic policy and business matters. He appears regularly on TV and radio. As FT editor, he interviewed many of the world’s leaders in business and politics, including: US President Barack Obama, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Hassan Rouhani of Iran.
Lionel has received several distinguished awards for his contribution to journalism and to the transatlantic community. In February 2009 he was awarded the St George’s Medal, 2018 he received the Media Society’s annual award for his outstanding contribution to journalism and in 2020 he received the Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is a Trustee of the Carnegie Corporation in New York, Chairman of the Wincott Foundation, a member of the Chubb International Advisory Board, Trustee of the Nico Colchester Fellowship and was Chair of Tate Galleries from 2018 to 2021 having been a Trustee since 2011.
Lionel’s book The Powerful and the Damned was published in the UK in November 2020.
