Reuters hires Larsen from FT

Reuters announced Tuesday the hiring of Peter Thal Larsen, who will join Reuters commentary team as European editor.

Larsen will be responsible for commissioning and editing commentary, as well as taking overall charge of Reuters global banking coverage. Based in London, he will report to Jonathan Ford, commentary editor, who leads a global team of columnists and has been tasked with increasing the number and variety of columns and blogs offered by Reuters.

Larsen joins Reuters from the Financial Times, where he was banking editor, leading the FT’s coverage of the global banking turmoil.

From 2000 to 2004, Larsen worked in New York, where he played a prominent role in the FT’s expansion in North America, initially as Wall Street correspondent covering mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies and restructurings, and later as U.S. communications editor, covering the media and telecom industries.

He also played a leading role in the paper’s coverage of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and their aftermath. Previously, Larsen covered media and telecoms for the FT in London.

“I have spent ten wonderful years at the FT, and have been privileged to help shape the paper’s coverage of some momentous stories, particularly the global financial crisis,” said Larsen in a statement. “However, I am extremely excited to be offered this opportunity to help build Reuters new commentary service. I look forward to joining such a prestigious news organization, and to working with such a highly-regarded team.”