7 September 2020: Today, the Financial Times announces that Brooke Masters is appointed chief business commentator, effective January 2021. In this prominent role Masters will analyse and critique the changing corporate world, helping the FT’s global readers navigate and pave the way for a sustainable and responsible recovery in the aftermath of Covid-19.

Since 2018 Masters has served as opinion and analysis editor, overseeing the FT’s own columnists and commissioning opinion pieces from a range of outside contributors. Her responsibilities also include the popular Work & Careers and Big Read sections. 

As opinion editor, Masters has worked hard to increase the range of voices represented in the FT, seeking out pieces that reflect a broader spectrum of ideas and perspectives. She led the rebrand of the page from ‘comment’ to ‘opinion,’ rewriting the guidelines for submissions to attract a more diverse pool of outside writers.

FT editor Roula Khalaf commented: “Brooke is an outstanding journalist with fiery opinions and excellent judgment. She has transformed our opinion pages and I look forward to seeing what she will do as chief business commentator, one of the most important roles serving our global business audience as the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.”

Masters joined the FT in 2006 and has held a number of roles, including companies editor from 2013 to 2018, during which time she joined the team of assistant editors. Prior to this, Masters served as FT’s chief regulation correspondent, working with reporters around the world to cover global financial regulation and white-collar crime cases. Before that she covered banking, stockbroking and asset management as city correspondent after a stint as a Lex column writer and senior business reporter in New York.

Former chief business commentator John Gapper returns to London after a secondment as Editor-at-Large of the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo. The English language business title just took home four top prizes at the prestigious SOPA Awards, including best scoop for the second year running. In a new role as weekend business columnist, Gapper will bring his experience and flair to FT weekend readers with a Saturday column focused on the consumer.

A new opinion and analysis editor will be announced in the coming weeks. 

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For more information, please contact: Katrina Fedczuk / katrina.fedczuk@ft.com

About the Financial Times 

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of more than one million, three-quarters of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community. 

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