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Lionel Barber

Former Editor

Lionel Barber is the former editor of the Financial Times. As editor from 2005 until January 2020, Barber helped to transform the FT from a newspaper publisher into a multi-channel global news organisation. During his editorship the FT won many international awards for its journalism.

Barber has co-written several books and has lectured widely on foreign policy, transatlantic relations and economics. As editor, he interviewed many of the world’s leaders in business and politics, including: US President Barack Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

Barber began his career in journalism in 1978 as a reporter for The Scotsman. He then moved to The Sunday Times as a business correspondent and joined the FT in 1985 as a business reporter. During his FT career, he has also served as Washington correspondent, Brussels bureau chief, news editor, European editor, US managing editor and the editor.

Barber serves on the Board of Trustees at the Tate and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. He graduated in 1978 from St Edmund Hall, Oxford University with a joint honours degree in German and modern history and speaks fluent French and German.

@lionelbarber (link opens in a new browser window)
@lionelbarber (link opens in a new browser window)

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  • Thursday, 24 September, 2020
    ObituaryHarold Evans
    Harold Evans, Fleet Street editor, 1928-2020

    A master craftsman who was a pioneer in hard-hitting investigative journalism and fell out with Rupert Murdoch

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  • Thursday, 16 January, 2020
    World15 min
    Outgoing FT editor Lionel Barber reflects on how the world has changed during his tenure

    How the global financial crisis, the rise of China and the tech revolution have transformed our lives

  • Thursday, 16 January, 2020
    Angela Merkel
    Transcript: ‘Europe is no longer at the centre of world events’

    Germany’s chancellor on Brexit, Nato and why the west is worth fighting for

  • Wednesday, 15 January, 2020
    AnalysisThe Big Read
    Angela Merkel warns EU: ‘Brexit is a wake-up call’

    In an exclusive FT interview, Germany’s chancellor says the bloc must be more competitive

  • Monday, 13 January, 2020
    InterviewSecurity Service UK
    MI5 chief sees tech as biggest challenge and opportunity

    Machine learning next step in gleaning information, says Andrew Parker as he leaves Security Service

  • Sunday, 12 January, 2020
    Security Service UK
    MI5 head shrugs off Huawei risk to intelligence sharing

    UK set to decide on allowing Chinese equipment into 5G network in face of US lobbying

  • Tuesday, 7 January, 2020
    Bank of England
    Central banks low on ways to fight recession, warns Carney

    Exclusive: Bank of England governor sees threat of ‘liquidity trap’ and need for fresh monetary tools

  • Monday, 9 December, 2019
    FT CollectionsPaul Volcker: his values and legacy
    Paul Volcker, central banker, 1927-2019

    Success at the Federal Reserve laid the groundwork for anti-inflation policies around the world

  • Thursday, 28 November, 2019
    Sustainable capitalism
    Corporations — and capitalism itself — face a fresh crisis

    FT editor Lionel Barber on the need for reform of the economic system

  • Promoted Content
  • Thursday, 21 November, 2019
    FT Appeal for ZSL
    FT editor Lionel Barber introduces our Seasonal Appeal

    This year, we are supporting ZSL, a conservation charity that combats poaching and empowers communities to protect wild animals

  • Tuesday, 12 November, 2019
    Financial Times
    Roula Khalaf to succeed Lionel Barber as FT editor

    Change at top of news organisation to happen in January

  • Monday, 4 November, 2019
    InterviewToshimitsu Motegi
    Japan’s foreign minister sees progress on end to US car tariffs

    Trade deal with Washington a ‘major feat’ despite criticism it favours America

  • Friday, 1 November, 2019
    Life & Arts
    The point of departure: Lionel Barber on Brexit and beyond

    The FT editor on the forces pulling Britain and Europe apart — and why the wrangling may have just begun

  • Friday, 1 November, 2019
    InterviewJapanese politics & policy
    Japan sounds warning on China’s growing military might

    Defence minister Taro Kono says new missile systems have added to ‘global anxiety’

  • Thursday, 3 October, 2019
    Brexit5 min
    Brexit: why Boris Johnson's plan to break the deadlock won't fly

    FT editor Lionel Barber and political commentator Robert Shrimsley on the prime minister's strategy

  • Monday, 30 September, 2019
    AnalysisThe Big Read
    Interview: Draghi declares victory in battle over the euro

    Departing ECB president justifies more stimulus and says hawks have lost the political argument

  • Sunday, 29 September, 2019
    Eurozone reform
    Draghi backs calls for fiscal union to bolster eurozone

    Outgoing ECB president ‘optimistic’ that the political debate is shifting

  • Tuesday, 24 September, 2019
    AnalysisSupreme Court UK7 min
    UK Supreme Court rules against Boris Johnson - what happens next?

    FT editor Lionel Barber and FT news editor Matthew Garrahan discuss what the Supreme Court's decision means for the prime minister, parliament and Brexit

  • Friday, 20 September, 2019
    Life & Arts8 min
    Brexit, populism and climate change - FT weekend festival 2019

    Leading writers including Simon Schama, Alastair Campbell, Janine Gibson and Lionel Barber reflect on our times

  • Friday, 20 September, 2019
    Lunch with the FTBest of Lunch with the FT 2019
    Stephen Schwarzman: ‘I like to do things that are beautiful’

    The Blackstone co-founder on risk-taking, Trump whispering — and why the rich shouldn’t pay more tax

  • Tuesday, 17 September, 2019
    AnalysisThe Big Read
    Vladimir Putin: liberalism has ‘outlived its purpose’

    The Russian leader believes he is back at the top table with history on his side

  • Friday, 13 September, 2019
    Life & Arts
    In conversation: Lionel Barber and top journalists discuss media

    FT Weekend Festival looks at the increasingly shrill and polarised world and the need for balance

  • Tuesday, 3 September, 2019
    AnalysisBrexit6 min
    Brexit: is a snap election part of Boris Johnson's strategy?

    FT editor Lionel Barber and Whitehall correspondent Sebastian Payne on the prime minister's Brexit options

  • Tuesday, 13 August, 2019
    Brexit4 min
    Brexit: Remainers are failing to get their act together

    FT editor Lionel Barber and chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley on the narrowing options to halt the UK's split from the EU

  • Monday, 5 August, 2019
    Brexit5 min
    Brexit: the challenge facing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

    FT editor Lionel Barber and chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley on the task faced by the Tory leader

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