Lionel Barber was the Editor of the Financial Times (2005-2020) – he is a writer, broadcaster, popular keynote speaker and a superb moderator on a range of topics including geopolitics, technology and business. He is also an investor and senior advisor of a newspaper called The New European. As Editor, Barber... Read more
Lionel Barber was the Editor of the Financial Times (2005-2020) – he is a writer, broadcaster, popular keynote speaker and a superb moderator on a range of topics including geopolitics, technology and business. He is also an investor and senior advisor of a newspaper called The New European.
As Editor, Barber transformed the Financial Times and solidified its legacy as one of the world’s leading business news organisations with a digital-first operation, renowned for its integrity and accuracy. Barber led the publication to surpass the milestone of over a million paying readers and to achieve over 75% digital subscribers.
Under his editorship, the Financial Times won several prestigious awards for its world-class journalism, including being named ‘Newspaper of the Year’ three times, the British Journalism Awards, Gerald Loeb, Overseas Press Club, Society of American Business Editors and Writers and Society of Publishers in Asia.
Barber’s career in journalism began in 1978, working as a reporter for the Scotsman. He went on to work for the Sunday Times before joining the Financial Times in 1985 as a business reporter. He progressed through the organisation, advancing to roles including Washington correspondent, Brussels chief bureau, news editor, lead of the continental European edition and US Managing Editor.
Lionel Barber published his memoirs in November 2020, titled ‘The Powerful and the Damned: Private Diaries in Turbulent Times‘. He is an experienced commentator and Co-Author of several books, including ‘Price of Truth: Story of the Reuters Millions’, which explores the history of Reuters news agency. His latest book is ‘Gambling Man: The Wild Ride of Japan’s Masayoshi Son‘ (May 2025)
He is highly sought-after for his insights and has spoken to audiences around the world on foreign policy, transatlantic relations, international economic policy, business matters and Europe. Lionel Barber makes regular appearances on TV and Radio and has interviewed several high-profile individuals including US President Barack Obama, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Hassan Rouhani of Iran.
Barber has been the recipient of numerous prestigious honours and awards including the Laurence Stern Fellowship at the Washington Post (1985), a Woodrow Wilson Foundation fellowship (1991), a visiting scholarship at the University of California at Berkeley (1992) and a visiting fellowship at the Robert Schuman Center at the European University Institute in Florence (1996). For his contributions to journalism, Barber was awarded the 2020 Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 Media Society’s award for outstanding contributions to journalism and in 2016, he was made a Chevalier in the French Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur for his journalism. In 2009, Barber was awarded the St George’s Society medal of honour for his commendable contribution to journalism in the transatlantic community.
In 2021, Lionel Barber was appointed Chairman of the Wincott Foundation. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a member of the Chubb International Advisory Board, a Trustee of the Nico Colchester Fellowship and was Chair of Tate Galleries from 2018 to 2021 having been a Trustee since 2011.
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You can book Lionel Barber through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Lionel's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Lionel Barber's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Lionel tailored to your event.
Lionel Barber speaks on Brexit, Business & Management, Economics & Finance, Euro, Government & Politics. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Lionel to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Lionel Barber for events worldwide, subject to Lionel's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Lionel Barber is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Lionel can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Lionel Barber on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Lionel can offer.
Lionel Barber delivers keynotes in German. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Lionel Barber's areas of expertise include Brexit, Business & Management, Economics & Finance, Euro, Government & Politics. To get a clear sense of Lionel's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Lionel Barber can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Brexit, Business & Management, Economics & Finance, Euro, Government & Politics is relevant. Details of Lionel's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Lionel Barber is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Lionel Barber, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Lionel's current availability for your dates.