Ignites Asia highly commended in three categories

The Financial Times has received two awards and been highly commended in a further three categories at the 2015 State Street Institutional Press Awards Asia Pacific, which recognise outstanding performance in institutional financial services reporting.

Lucy Hornby, China correspondent, and Miles Johnson, hedge fund correspondent, were jointly named 2015 Journalist of the Year in the Investment category on account of their coverage of the Chinese renewable energy company, Hanergy, and for two articles in particular - Breakneck growth of Hanergy raises questions and Hanergy’s Li taps shadow lenders to fund group’s startling growth.

Commenting on the positive news, Christine Spolar, the FT’s investigations and special reports editor, said: “Lucy and Miles began questioning the phenomenon of Hanergy Thin Film and their coverage turned out to be revelatory and prescient. Their stories pre-empted the dramatic plunge in China’s equities in 2015. It also highlights regulators’ concerns over the true financial state of some of the new Chinese companies that have been rocketing to prominence in the last few years.

Lifen Zhang, associate editor at the FT and founding editor-in-chief at FTChinese.com, received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Institutional Journalism, in recognition of the significant impact he has made towards developing the media landscape in Asia Pacific, and maintaining a high standard of journalism.

Commenting on Lifen Zhang’s achievements, Angela Mackay, the FT’s Managing Director – Asia Pacific, said, “Lifen played a fundamental role in creating FTChinese.com ten years ago. Before he retired earlier this year, Lifen and his editorial team had helped built a profitable site with more than 2.2 million unique users and set up the business for it’s next phase of growth.”

Three Ignites Asia journalists were also highly commended:

  • John Sedgwick, Associate Editor: Highly Commended, Journalist of the Year – Investor Services & Technology
  • Lin Jing, Reporter: Highly Commended, Journalist of the Year – Pensions Issues
  • Kang Tae-jun, Reporter: Highly Commended, Award for Best Newcomer

The results of the State Street Institutional Press Awards were announced today at a reception in Hong Kong.

- Ends -

For more information please contact:

Rhonda Taylor
rhonda.taylor@ft.com
+852 2509 5519

Kristina Eriksson
kristina.eriksson@ft.com
+44 (0) 20 7873 4961

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