James Harding

James Harding, the former Director of News and Current Affairs at the BBC, held a key role within the world’s largest news organisation for half a decade. A British journalist who is the Co-Founder of Tortoise Media, James has also been the Editor of The Times of London, and the youngest person to become the editor of The Times newspaper. 

The winner of the Newspaper of the Year in two of the five years in which James was the editor of the paper, this accolade alone showcases James’ prowess and stature within journalism. A household name within the journalism industry, James commands enormous respect and is a figure that is truly revered. James studied History at Trinity College, Cambridge. His impressive knowledge of an array of languages including Japanese, Chinese, French and German has led him to be a speechwriter in the office of Koichi Kato, then Japan’s chief cabinet secretary. Holding numerous Japanese and Chinese roles both within private and political institutions, James opened the Shanghai bureau for the Financial Times – the first European newspaper to open an office in the city since the 1949 revolution.

An esteemed figure, James was previously The Times’ Business Editor. The world-renowned author of “Alpha Dogs – How Political Spin Became A Global Business” James writes with incredible authority on the subject, substantiating an unparalleled demand for him as a speaker. An outstanding writer who also has a gift for engaging guests with his insightful tales and anecdotes, the outstanding James is available to hire as an after-dinner speaker for events, gala dinners and functions across the UK.

A high-profile speaker who has an incredible story to share, James is the host of the ThinkIn Podcast. He has enjoyed tremendous success throughout his career and has fascinating tales to recount. A man who has reached the summit of his profession, James Harding is a tremendous speaker who is available to hire for all manner of speaking events. Enquire now!