Financial Times appoints Derek Brower

The Financial Times says in his new role, Brower will oversee the FT’s 2024 presidential election coverage and manage the FT’s Washington DC bureau, including reporting on foreign and military affairs, economic and monetary policy, and business regulation. He will also oversee political reporting from the FT’s broader US network, including from bureaus in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Houston.

In his previous role, Brower was US energy editor, leading coverage of the world's biggest and most dynamic energy market, from Texas to New York. During his tenure, he reported on companies, investors, global markets, climate policy and the energy transition. He was also the editor of Energy Source, the FT's energy newsletter, published twice a week.

Prior to this, Brower covered energy and global politics for 20 years, working across the Middle East and North Africa, North America and Russia. He has reported from several conflict zones, including Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. He has also reported from across the US and in recent months led the FT’s coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Derek’s years of covering the energy industry have given him a ringside seat to the intersection of money and politics, which is at the core of the FT’s political coverage,” said Peter Spiegel, US managing editor. “Derek has also spent years studying and reporting on Russia, making him just the person to help oversee our foreign and security coverage at this critical moment. I can’t wait for him to get dug in.”

“From Biden’s economic strategy on China to his efforts to decarbonise the American economy, from Trump’s legal woes to next year’s epoch-defining presidential election, no story will be more important for FT readers than the US,” said Brower. “I’m proud to take on the role and delighted for the opportunity to work so closely with the FT’s brilliant team in DC.”