Luke Johnson is leaving the Financial Times after seven years to join the Sunday Times. He will write a weekly business column for his new paper from 1 February.
Johnson, the restaurant and leisure entrepreneur who chairs Risk Capital Partners, made his name as an entrepreneur with the expansion and the stock exchange float of Pizza Express in 1993.
He was subsequently involved in other restaurant brands, such as Strada, Belgo and Giraffe. He is also the chairman and principal shareholder in the company that owns the Patisserie Valerie chain.
Johnson was chairman of Channel 4 for six years until 2010 and now chairs the Institute of Cancer Research, StartUp Britain and the Centre for Entrepreneurs.
Johnson issued a statement talking of his “delight” at joining the Sunday Times. “My focus is entrepreneurship”, he said. “I will be commenting on everything from start-ups to PLCs, ranging from the world of private equity to boardroom politics, and my experience across sectors like hospitality, the media industry, entertainment, retailing and travel.”
The Sunday Times’s business editor, Dominic O’Connell, greeted Johnson’s appointment: “Luke will make an invaluable contribution to our unrivalled coverage... I am confident that Sunday Times readers will benefit from his wealth of experience in creating, and building businesses.”
According to an Ipsos MORI poll, the Sunday Times is read by more than 58% of business leaders, which is said to be more than any other newspaper. Its business section recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Source: Private
