Robert Guest is a British journalist, author and the current deputy editor at The Economist. Specialising in the coverage of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the US, as well as business and politics, Robert examines the impacts of geopolitics with real-world anecdotes and an impressive breadth of knowledge.
Before joining The Economist, Robert was a freelance writer based in South Korea. Moving into the journalism space, he then worked at the Daily Telegraph as the Tokyo Correspondent. He then joined The Economist, initially serving as the Africa Editor, reporting on the country’s affairs whilst based between London and Johannesburg. Robert then became the magazine’s Washington Correspondent, writing the US opinion column under the name Lexington. He then served as their business editor, only to hold the position of US Editor, leading the magazine’s American coverage. Robert went on to become Foreign Editor, where he oversaw global news coverage, before serving as Deputy Editor of The Economist. Most recently, he was appointed Chair of Trustees of The Economist Educational Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping children and young people navigate challenging social and environmental difficulties, misinformation, and polarisation.
Robert is a two-time author, his first title being ‘Shackled Continent’, which attempted to explain why Africa is so poor, and the second being ‘Borderless Economics’, which dives into the argument of freer migration and the impact it would have. Robert has also won various awards, including the Queen’s English Society’s Annual Award for Fine Writing, as well as the Foreign Press Association’s Award for Best Economic Story of the Year.
With regular appearances across CNN and BBC, Robert is a seasoned and adept speaker on all things geopolitics and business. Drawing from personal experiences, insightful observations and an accomplished career, Robert is the perfect addition to a multitude of events, leaving audiences enlightened and well-informed on a variety of important and topical issues.
Books
The Shackled Continent: Africa's Past, Present and Future
Borderless Economics: Chinese Sea Turtles, Indian Fridges and the New Fruits of Global Capitalism
- 2025 – Appointed Chair of Trustees of The Economist Educational Foundation
- 2023 – Promoted to Deputy Editor of The Economist, joining the senior editorial leadership team
- 2016 – Serving as Foreign Editor, overseeing the publication’s global international coverage
- 2011 – Published "Borderless Economics", examining global migration, trade and talent flows
- 2009 – Wrote the “Lexington” column, The Economist’s US politics and policy commentary
- 2004 – Published "Shackled Continent", analysing economic development and governance challenges in Africa
- 2004 – Won Best Journalist at the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards
- 2003 - Won the Queen’s English Society’s Annual Award for Fine Writing
- 2003 – Won the Foreign Press Association’s Award for Best Economic Story of the Year
How to hire Robert Guest
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Robert Guest for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
