News - Economist Speakers
Our top economists and finance experts have rarely been off the television screens or airwaves as the credit crunch has taken hold.
All have needed a steady nerve and grasp of complex issues to present to vast audiences at short notice. A sense of humour has come in handy to take the edge off nightmarish financial dramas which unfold daily in trade and banking centres globally.
Let us introduce you to our experts who are key players on the economics and news scene.
Justin Urquhart Stewart
The famous red braces of Justin Urquhart Stewart have been smokin lately as this busy financial analyst has given his unique take on the credit crunch.
This most recognisable and trusted financial market commentator in the UK hasn't had the chance to hang his famous braces up because he has been in demand in broadcast and print media as well as events, providing his unique understanding of the banking crisis.
He was one of the first to comment on the Northern Rock fiasco where he vividly told BBC viewers and listeners that bank loans were like a blancmange which had been hit very heavily by a spade – splattered everywhere!
Instantly people understood what he meant. This is typical of a style developed originally observing the retail market industry for 20 years whilst at Barclays Stockbrokers, where he gained an understanding of the market's roles and benefits for the private investor.
More recently he is the public face of Seven Investment Management which he co- founded to manage and administer billions on behalf of professional financial wealth managers and intermediaries.
He knows the perils and pitfalls of market trading inside out and has a colourful way of expressing his opinions and evaluations. This larger than life character has a lasting impression on audiences and is instantly recognisable and applauded.
Professor Douglas McWilliams
Northern Rock was a preventable crisis. That is the view of Professor McWilliams who has been critical in the media about the top echelons of bank and government.
He has voiced his strong opinions as the banking crisis has unfolded, requiring his special take on complex financial issues. This authoritative figure who runs one of Britain's leading commercial economics think-tanks has vast commercial experience including being Chief Economic Advisor to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Chief Forecaster with IBM. No wonder he is sought after by top news and current affairs programmes and national papers and is a popular keynote speaker.
His presentations are clear, concise, well argued and supported by visual material. He can get across tough facts in a humorous and relaxed style and has the ability to provide keynote speeches for large audiences and small seminars to all kinds of businesses and industries.
Roger Bootle
Top economist Roger Bootle is a wise man in every sense. Like other leading experts he has been at the centre of media discussions in recent weeks in interviews and article writing.
The Economics Adviser to Deloitte and Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Treasury Committee is one of the City’s best known economists who is sought after as a speaker because of his vast knowledge and down to earth approach.
This witty and knowledgeable keynote speaker is Managing Director of the independent consultancy, Capital Economics, having previously been Chief Economist at several institutions, including HSBC.
Apart from being a Visiting Professor at Manchester Business School and special advisor to the House of Commons Treasury he was a member of the chancellor’s panel of Independent Economic Forecasters known as the ‘Wise Men’ prior to the change of government.
He is a noted business author whose best known book ‘Death of Inflation’ is a popular read in business circles.
Andrew Marr
Another high profile presenter in demand as a speaker and link presenter is Andrew Marr.
Since Andrew took over the coveted Sunday morning slot on BBC One, 'The Andrew Marr Show' has become the place where top politicians make news, cultural icons inform and entertain and influential commentators share their analysis and insights.
The Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and other senior figures in public life regularly appear on the agenda-setting interview programme regarded as BBC’s flagship political show.
Memorable moments - which still resonate - include Gordon Brown announcing he would not hold an early election within months of taking office, and the Archbishop of York cutting up his dog collar in protest at the regime in Zimbabwe.
The busy presenter also presents BBC Radio 4’s Start The Week each Monday morning and is noted for history books and award winning history programmes when not involved in political programming.
His background also includes several years at The Economist where he was political editor.
George Alagiah
George Alagiah is centre stage when it comes to global news. As presenter of the BBC Six O’clock News and front man on BBC World News Today, he has his finger on the pulse of world developments.
Topics for speaking engagements include: Why business and economics are more important than politics in international relations; Africa’s future and Why multiculturalism has led to segregation in parts of Britain.
Audiences are keen to know about the people he has met in the course of his work. They include Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Kofi Annan of the United Nations, Yasser Arafat, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Tariq Aziz of Iraq to name a few.
Before going behind the studio desk, George was one of the BBC's leading foreign correspondents, recognised throughout the industry for his award winning reporting on some of the most significant events of the last decade.
He has spoken at the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Society for Arts and at the Royal Overseas League and to corporate audiences in investment banking, energy and insurance.
There have been many guest appearances for the charismatic television presenter and author who is a patron of the Fairtrade Foundation and Board member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Jeff Randall
With the economy and credit crunch dominating the headlines Jeff Randall has seized the opportunity to expand his role at Sky News.
As presenter of his own show on Sky News the former editor of Sunday Business takes a business look at the big news stories and issues of the day four nights a week.
He stepped down from his role as editor-at-large of the Daily Telegraph to expand his Sky News role although he continues to be a Telegraph columnist.
Businesses can learn a great deal from his hard hitting interviews with leading business figures such as Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton and retailer Phillip Green.
There have also been tough and enlightening interviews with McDonalds UK Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook, O2 Chief Executive Peter Erskine, Eurostar CEO Richard Brown and Chelsea FC Chief Executive Peter Kenyon.
Jeff also has a string of awards for his broadcast and journalist work and is proving a popular speaker on business topics and business and economics issues.
Robert Peston
“Bank of China, the giant Chinese bank, is the mystery bank that Jim Spowart and European American Capital hope will make an offer for HBOS to stymie the takeover bid from Lloyds TSB”.
This was one of the astonishing new revelations by the BBC's business editor who was the first to reveal that the banks and financial markets were facing disaster.
Robert Peston has come to the fore during the banking crisis. He crops up in nearly every news bulletin and in demand for events for his fascinating insights into the credit crunch crisis and thoughts for the future.
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