Reuters President Michael Friedenberg today told staff he will be leaving the company in December.
In a message to employees Friedenberg said, “It has – in the truest sense – been an incredible three years and an unmatched honor to serve the world’s most trusted news organization when the world needed us.”
“Thanks to your work, Reuters is in an historically strong position, both editorially and commercially. We have a dynamic new editor-in-chief in Alessandra Galloni, and our journalism is known worldwide for its speed, breadth and quality. As we look ahead, the time is right to pass on the baton – and allow a smooth transition – with Reuters firmly on the front foot.”
“Never has there been greater need for independent and unbiased news and information that people can depend on. I have every confidence that the next president of this organization will build on what we have delivered over recent years and write the next chapter in Reuters story.”
Steve Hasker, president and CEO, Thomson Reuters, said, “Reuters is delivering world-class independent, unbiased global journalism today and its next president will build on the work that Michael and his team have done. We thank him for his leadership during an intense period in global affairs and express our collective appreciation to all our Reuters colleagues for their tireless efforts to inform the world.”
Friedenberg joined Thomson Reuters in December 2018. He has overseen Reuters ongoing digital transformation and modernization, including: the acquisition of FCBI and launch of Reuters Events in 2019; the launch of Reuters Professional and the new Reuters.com; and the expansion of Reuters Connect, the digital marketplace powering the news ecosystem.
In April 2021, Alessandra Galloni was appointed Reuters editor-in-chief, the first woman to lead the news organization in its 170-year history. Since the start of 2019, Reuters has received more than 400 journalism award recognitions, including four Pulitzer Prizes.
Friedenberg previously served as global CEO of IDG Communications, a media, data and services firm, leading the company across 147 countries.
Thomson Reuters will begin an internal and external search for a new president in the coming days.
[Reuters PR blog post]
Media contact:
Heather.Carpenter@thomsonreuters.com