Last week, BtoB Media Business magazine honoured FT Chief Executive John Ridding as the ‘top innovator in business publishing’ at its annual awards which recognise the most forward-thinking and creative publishing executives of the year.

In his acceptance speech, Ridding said: “From the FT perspective, this is a really important award and recognition.  One of the main themes we’ve been trying to drive through our organisation is the need to change and innovate…The technological changes that lie at the heart of the disruption [that the publishing industry faces] can and should be embraced, and should be seen as a source of opportunity rather than simply an existential threat.”

Judges noted that since Ridding took over as CEO in 2006, the FT ‘has pioneered the metered model, grabbed the tablet opportunity and created a new way of measuring the brand’s total audience.’

In his over twenty years at the FT, Ridding has held a number of editorial and commercial positions, including Editor and Publisher of the Financial Times, Asia, as well as Chairman of Pearson in Asia. In this role, led the launch of the Asia edition of the FT in 2003, and steered it to a series of commercial and editorial successes. He has also served as companies reporter, Paris Correspondent, Korea Correspondent, Deputy Editor and Managing Editor.

Read more about the BtoB Top Innovators in Business Publishing awards and Ridding’s selection at http://bit.ly/Li23WK.