Lionel first began as a journalist in 1978, appointed as a reporter for The Scotsman. Here Lionel got his first taste of the fast-paced world of journalism and found his roots within the industry. By 1981, Lionel was turning heads of officials and he was awarded the Young Journalist of the Year 1981 at the British Press Awards. Lionel then accepted a position at the esteemed publication, The Sunday Times acting as the publications Business Correspondent.
After his tenure at The Sunday Times, Lionel moved on to the Financial Times where he would go on to hold the biggest role in his career. Before becoming Editor of the Financial Times, Lionel held a number of other roles for the publication. In 1986 he was appointed as the Washington Correspondent, followed by the Brussels Bureau Chief in 1992 and News Editor in 1998. In 2005 Lionel was appointed as the Editor of the Financial Times, a position which he served for 14 years. During his tenure as Editor, Lionel was fortunate to interview many international politicians such as the likes of David Cameron, Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama. In 2020, Lionel became the recipient of the Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award, commended for his excellence in business journalism, and began presenting What Next? - a podcast for LBC.
Lionel has also been fortunate to co-author several books. His work includes The Price of Truth which documents the history of Reuters news agency and Not With Honour which covers the topic of the Westland Affair. His dedication to journalism and his industry-leading expertise has frequently been rewarded throughout his career. In 1998 he was recognised in the 101 Most Influential Europeans by Le Nouvel Observateur. He was later awarded the St George Society Medal of Honour, rewarding his contribution to journalism in the transatlantic community. In 2016 Lionel was bestowed with the French honour of Chevalier at the Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, recognising his ‘high-quality journalism’ contributions. Alongside his journalism, Lionel has also been a Laurence Stern fellow at The Washington Post, a visiting scholar at the University of California and a visiting fellow of the Robert Schuman Corporation of New York.
As a speaker, Lionel is able to deliver an eloquent keynote address, packed with knowledge that he gained whilst working for esteemed publications. From finance to current affairs and economics, Lionel brings understanding to such topics which are backed by the authority of over 30 years of industry-leading expertise. A perfect keynote or conference facilitator, Lionel is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on an audience of any size.
