Move recognizes significance of global energy transition
The Financial Times and Nikkei will open the first joint bureau in their international editorial network in Houston, Texas, reaching a milestone in their deepening partnership. The news organisations have taken the step together because of the growing importance of the global energy transition story, which is shaking up the oil and gas giants based in the US energy capital and spurring investment in new technologies across Texas.
The Financial Times has appointed energy veteran Justin Jacobs as its Houston correspondent. Jacobs, who joined the FT’s natural resources team in late 2020, joins a growing team headed by New York-based US energy editor Derek Brower, who has relaunched the FT’s Energy Source newsletter and expanded its industry coverage.
Nikkei has appointed Ryosuke Hanafusa as Houston bureau chief to expand the Japanese publisher’s coverage of the sector and the American economy more broadly. Hanafusa was previously energy editor at The Nikkei in Tokyo and earlier served as a correspondent in Cairo and Istanbul.
The opening of a joint bureau in Houston is a major step in both the FT and Nikkei’s complimentary US expansion plans, centred on covering the global sectors where American companies are dominant players. The publishers, which entered a partnership when Nikkei acquired the FT in 2015, have each seen their US readership rise substantially.
Peter Spiegel, US managing editor of the FT, said: “Americans have shown up to read FT stories in record numbers over the last year, helping us set two all-time traffic highs for FT.com. There’s clearly a growing appetite for FT content out of the US - both among our American and non-American audience - and having a physical presence in Houston will bring us even closer to the big energy stories that our readers want.”
Hiroshi Toyofuku, editor-in-chief, Americas at The Nikkei, said: “Our new bureau in Houston will provide our readers with greater insight into the energy sector and other unique aspects of the American economy, politics and culture. As the world starts to emerge from the pandemic, this is an interesting time to delve deeper into the dynamic changes taking place in the south.”
John Ridding, CEO of the FT, said: “We are excited to open our first joint bureau with Nikkei, as we develop our partnership and align our brands more closely. We have a shared ambition to grow our audiences in the US, where 30 percent of the FT’s global readership is based, and Houston is an obvious place to position ourselves to capture a big, globally relevant story.”
Tsuyoshi Hasebe, President and CEO of Nikkei, said: “The opening of the joint bureau in Houston is testament to the strength of the Nikkei-FT partnership. Together, we will continue to expand our global network of journalists to deliver even greater value to our readers.”
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For more information, please contact: Mark Staniland | Mark.Staniland@ft.com
Notes to Editors
Justin Jacobs | Houston Correspondent | Financial Times
Justin Jacobs is the Houston Correspondent for the Financial Times, responsible for covering natural resources and the broader energy story in the Americas.
Jacobs has covered the industry in roles around the globe, including in Washington DC, London and Beijing. In his role at IHS Markit, Jacobs analysed energy markets for financial services clients, focused on shale and other US issues, Venezuela, geopolitics, ESG investing and the energy transition.
Prior to that, he was at Petroleum Economist, reporting on high-profile topics ranging from US shale, corporate strategy, Venezuelan oil and politics, Brazil’s deep-water, and China’s state oil companies. Additionally, he has served as a contributor for Oxford Analytica and as an energy analyst for Business Monitor International.
Jacobs earned his MA in international studies from Goldsmiths, University of London, and holds a degree in finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Ryosuke Hanafusa | Houston Bureau Chief | Nikkei
Ryosuke Hanafusa is the Houston Bureau Chief for Nikkei, responsible for covering energy and the US economy.
Prior to this, Hanafusa was the energy editor at Nikkei in Tokyo, where he wrote extensively about the transition of utilities in Japan, including the Tokyo Electric Power Company, which is decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. He has also reported on Japanese trading houses, which led the country’s investment in the oil and gas sector.
He previously served as Nikkei’s Cairo Bureau Chief, covering the Middle East and North Africa, and wrote numerous stories about the Arab Spring. Following his tenure in Cairo, he became the Istanbul Bureau Chief and covered the East Mediterranean, Caucasus and Central Asia. During this assignment, he conducted exclusive interviews with more than 30 ministers as well as central bank governors and reported from at least 20 countries.
Hanafusa earned his Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Keio University.
About the Financial Times
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organizations, recognized 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.
About Nikkei
Nikkei is a world-renowned media brand for Asian news, respected for quality journalism and for being a trusted provider of business news and information. Founded as a market news provider in Japan in 1876, Nikkei has grown into one of the world's largest media corporations, with 36 foreign editorial bureaus and approximately 1,500 journalists worldwide. Nikkei acquired the Financial Times in 2015.