John Authers
John Authers | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966 Lewes, East Sussex, England |
| Occupation(s) | Financial writer, journalist, author |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Known for | Chief Markets Commentator at Financial Times, Senior Markets Editor at Bloomberg News |
| Notable work | The Victim's Fortune: Inside the Epic Battle Over the Debts of the Holocaust; The Fearful Rise of Markets; Europe's Financial Crisis |
John Authers (born 1966) is a British financial writer and journalist who dedicated nearly thirty years to the Financial Times. During his tenure, he advanced to the position of Chief Markets Commentator and served as the global lead for the Lex Column before transitioning to Bloomberg in 2018.
Early life and education
Raised in Lewes, East Sussex, Authers attended Priory School, Lewes and spent 1985 on an exchange scholarship at Belmont Hill School in Massachusetts. Between 1985 and 1989, he pursued a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics at University College, Oxford. While at Oxford, he captained his college’s 1987 University Challenge team, achieving a record-setting score of 520 points in a single round, although his team ultimately lost in the final.
In 2000, Authers was awarded a Knight-Bagehot Fellowship, through which he earned an MS in Journalism from Columbia Journalism School and an MBA from Columbia Business School by 2001. He remains active with the fellowship program as a member of its Alumni Board of Advisors.
Journalist
Authers began his career at the Financial Times in 1990, where he held numerous positions over nearly three decades. His roles included US markets editor, Mexico City bureau chief, US banking correspondent, personal finance correspondent, education and local government correspondent, and columnist for ‘On Wall Street’. In 2010, he was appointed global head of the Lex Column, later becoming Chief Markets Commentator by 2018. That same year, he departed from the FT to join Bloomberg News as Senior Markets Editor.
His insights on financial matters have been sought by prominent media outlets such as NPR, BBC News, and the New York Times.
Author
In collaboration with Richard Wolffe, Authers co-wrote The Victim's Fortune: Inside the Epic Battle Over the Debts of the Holocaust (2003), which offers a comprehensive exploration of the negotiations surrounding Holocaust-era financial claims. This work was honored with the Knight-Bagehot award from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
His 2010 book, The Fearful Rise of Markets: A Short View of Global Bubbles and Synchronised Meltdowns, examines how central bank interventions contributed to asset price inflation and increased market interconnectedness. This publication was recognized as one of the Financial Times' business books of the year.
Awards
- "Best in Business" award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (2008, 2010)
- "UK investment journalist of the year" at the State Street Institutional Press Awards (2008)
- "Senior Journalist of the Year" awarded by the Wincott Foundation Awards (2009)
Published works
- Europe's Financial Crisis (FT Press, 2012)
- The Fearful Rise of Markets (FT Press, 2010)
- The Victim's Fortune: Inside the Epic Battle Over the Debts of the Holocaust (Harper Perennial, 2003), co-authored with Richard Wolffe
Personal
John Authers is married to Sara Silver, a financial journalist. They live in New York with their three children. Professionally, the couple has worked together on various projects. In addition to his journalism career, Authers is an accomplished classical vocalist who has performed at Carnegie Hall and collaborated with choirs for renowned artists such as Cecilia Bartoli and Luciano Pavarotti.