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John Gapper

Chief Business Commentator

John Gapper is associate editor and chief business commentator of the Financial Times. He writes a weekly column, appearing on Thursdays on the Comment page, about business trends and strategy. He also contributes leaders and other articles.

He has worked for the FT since 1987, covering labour relations, banking and the media. In 1991-92, he was a Harkness fellow of the Commonwealth Fund of New York, and studied US education and training at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Email John Gapper @johngapper (link opens in a new browser window)
Email John Gapper @johngapper (link opens in a new browser window)

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  • Wednesday, 27 March, 2019
    Apple Inc
    Apple TV+ reawakens the spirit of Sony

    The iPhone company’s streaming app does not need to be a Netflix killer to succeed

  • Wednesday, 20 March, 2019
    Levi Strauss & Co
    Levi Strauss is as enduring as a pair of vintage jeans

    The denim company’s brand has proved tough enough to survive years of wear and tear

  • Thursday, 14 March, 2019
    InterviewFT Magazine
    ‘If there’s a no-deal Brexit I’ll bring the price of beer down’

    John Gapper goes on a pub crawl with Wetherspoons’ Tim Martin   

  • Wednesday, 13 March, 2019
    Boeing Co
    Do not fear flying on the Boeing 737 Max

    Despite crashes, fly-by-wire software has made aircraft safer by reducing pilot error

  • Wednesday, 27 February, 2019
    Warren Buffett
    Buffett was too American to see through Kraft

    The founder of Berkshire Hathaway put excess faith in US packaged food brands

  • Wednesday, 20 February, 2019
    Automobiles
    Brexit betrays Thatcher’s carmaking legacy 

    Honda’s closure of its UK plant is part of a slow-motion tragedy for the industry

  • Friday, 15 February, 2019
    Investment Banking
    Why European banks fall short on Wall Street

    Investor pressure on Barclays and Deutsche Bank to retrench is just the latest blow

  • Wednesday, 13 February, 2019
    Pharmaceuticals sector
    Keytruda shows the high price of curing cancer

    Rapid medical innovation is prompting drug company mergers and making treatment costly

  • Wednesday, 6 February, 2019
    Ikea
    Ikea furniture does not need to fall apart

    Consumer companies can avoid an environmental dystopia by refurbishing and reusing more

  • Promoted Content
  • Wednesday, 30 January, 2019
    Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
    Huawei is too great a security gamble

    There is no proof that the telecoms equipment company helps China to spy but its loyalty is clear

  • Wednesday, 23 January, 2019
    Mining
    Palladium’s price strength risks becoming exhausted

    The metal is more expensive than gold but technological change could tarnish its lustre

  • Sunday, 20 January, 2019
    World Economic Forum in Davos
    Big chiefs attending Davos need to wise up and listen

    A chill has descended on international business that WEF pow-wow will not easily shrug off

  • Thursday, 17 January, 2019
    PG&E Corp
    Wildfires are too hot for one utility to handle

    PG&E is not the only culprit for an environmental disaster in drought-stricken California

  • Wednesday, 9 January, 2019
    Apple Inc
    How Apple’s iPhone lost its lustre

    Setback marks end of golden age when speed of innovation provided obsolescence

  • Wednesday, 26 December, 2018
    Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd
    Silence has been golden for Jardine Matheson

    Henry Keswick restored the Hong Kong conglomerate to fortune in China and Asia

  • Wednesday, 19 December, 2018
    Marriage and divorce
    Wedding excess has reached giddy new heights

    Social media and globalisation are turning private celebrations into aspirational events

  • Wednesday, 12 December, 2018
    Passive Investing
    Index fund managers are too big for comfort

    Investors such as BlackRock cannot keep quiet and hope that no one will notice them

  • Wednesday, 5 December, 2018
    Insurance
    Life insurance should not get too personal

    As fitness monitoring and genetic testing expands, the unhealthy may be priced out

  • Wednesday, 28 November, 2018
    Oil & Gas industry
    The romance of drilling for oil has peaked

    Energy companies must remake their industry for an era of lower demand

  • Sunday, 25 November, 2018
    Banks
    NY Fed told Goldman to improve risk reporting

    Notorious 1MDB deal was approved after meetings where recused bankers stayed in room

  • Wednesday, 21 November, 2018
    Indian business & finance
    Modi should trust his central bank’s tactics

    If handled wisely, there is time to strengthen India’s shadow banking groups and restore confidence

  • Wednesday, 21 November, 2018
    Special ReportEurope’s Road to Growth
    Europe plays catch-up in digital innovation

    The continent needs to shout louder about its strengths in research and skilled staff

  • Wednesday, 14 November, 2018
    Goldman Sachs Group
    The scandal of Goldman’s secret agent

    Banks and consultants are tarnished by doing deals for foreign governments they should avoid

  • Wednesday, 7 November, 2018
    Amazon
    Amazon’s beauty parade was an elaborate charade

    Big cities were always going to win the contest for its second head office

  • Wednesday, 31 October, 2018
    Lloyd's of London Ltd
    Lloyd’s needs a sound policy

    A technology-driven platform can emerge from the London insurance market’s traditions

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