The Financial Times says it held its 2023 annual party on Wednesday evening last week at 180 Studios on the Strand. Hosted by FT editor Roula Khalaf and CEO John Ridding, the event attracted more than 250 leaders from across politics, business, culture and media.
The publisher says attendees included: London mayor Sadiq Khan; former prime minister Theresa May; chancellor Jeremy Hunt; shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper; shadow health secretary Wes Streeting; Green party co-leader Carla Denyer; Jukka Siukosaari, Hélène Duchêne, Martin Fraser and Inigo Lambertini, the ambassadors of Finland, France, the Republic of Ireland and Italy respectively; BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn; Deutsche Bank UK CEO Tiina Lee; John Lewis chair Sharon White; Wilshire CEO Mark Makepeace; V&A director Tristram Hunt; BBC journalists Nick Robinson and Yalda Hakim; BBC director general Tim Davie; ITV political editor Robert Peston.
Welcoming guests, Roula Khalaf said: “I am constantly in awe at the spirit and the creativity of our newsroom and our correspondent network around the world. The quality and the richness of our journalism is never compromised, despite the pressure. And we continue to launch new digital formats that explain complex data and reveal new trends.
“2024 will be pivotal for global democracy. Important elections will happen in the US, the UK, South Africa, India, Indonesia and many other jurisdictions: billions of people will vote. The FT will be there to cover this momentous year - critical to our readers, to businesses - and to many of you in this room. We are lucky to live in a country where media freedom is real - so you can expect fearless commentary.”
Guests were welcomed with Financial Times-branded rosé wine, ‘The Iconic
Pink’, and departed with donated gifts from Paul Smith, Mont Blanc,
Ettinger, Fortnum & Masons, Evermore London, Neal's Yard and Natura
Bissé.
