FT names new DC bureau chief

The Financial Times announced Tuesday the appointment of Richard McGregor as Washington bureau chief, leading the FT’s coverage of American politics and managing its DC-based team of reporters.

McGregor succeeds Edward Luce, who is taking leave to write a book.

McGregor, currently deputy news editor for the FT based in London, will take up his new role with immediate effect. He will move to Washington full-time on Jan. 3.

“The financial crisis and economic turmoil have emphasized and accelerated the need to think global in terms of business, politics and economics,” said Gillian Tett, US managing editor, in a statement. “Richard’s foreign policy expertise and international experience will add to our award-winning coverage of the intersection of politics, business and finance and their sweeping effects.

“Ed’s contributions to the FT’s Washington coverage cannot be underestimated. During his tenure, the Financial Times earned a coveted seat in the White House press briefing room and in July Ed was honored with a Sidney Award for his feature on the ‘The Crisis of Middle-Class America.’ The FT’s DC team is as strong as it has ever been and in a great position from which to build.”

McGregor has previously served as Beijing bureau chief and Shanghai correspondent for the Financial Times. Prior to that, he was chief political correspondent, Japan correspondent and China correspondent for The Australian.  He has also worked for the International Herald Tribune, the BBC and the Far Eastern Economic Review and in various journalistic roles in Taiwan, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.