FT puts John Authers in charge of Lex

The Financial Times has appointed John Authers, the author of its daily Short View column, as the new global editor of its business and finance column Lex. New York-based Authers, who has a claim to fame of being the captain of the highest-scoring team in the history of University Challenge back in 1987, is currently the FT's investment editor. He takes up the role from 1 April and will relocate to London from 1 September, taking over from Jo Johnson, who has edited the column since 2008. "John has developed Short View into one of the FT's most popular columns," said FT editor Lionel Barber. "He brings a wealth of experience to Lex and will be instrumental in the next phase of its development." James Mackintosh, previously comment editor and hedge funds correspondent, will become the FT's investment editor and Short View columnist, based in London. The Lex column, which has run in the FT since 1945, has been edited by the former UK chancellor of the exchequer Nigel Lawson, former Barclays chief Martin Taylor, and the current director general of the Confederation of British Industry, Richard Lambert, who went on to edit the FT. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".