In this Executive Exchange conversation, Lisa McLeod, director at FT Strategies, sits down with Jon Slade, CEO of the Financial Times, to reflect on his first year in the role and the strategic priorities shaping one of the world's leading news organizations.
Together, they explore how the Financial Times is responding to technological disruption, changing audience behaviors and growing challenges to trust, while remaining committed to the principles that have underpinned the organization for more than a century. The discussion offers valuable lessons for leaders navigating transformation across media and beyond.
Responding to disruption with purpose
Slade outlines four structural forces reshaping the media industry: economic and geopolitical volatility, rapid advances in technology and AI, changing reader behaviors and the assault on truth and trust. Rather than viewing these solely as risks, he explains why they represent opportunities for organizations prepared to adapt while remaining true to their purpose.
Designing around the customer
Reflecting on his first year as CEO, Slade discusses how the Financial Times is evolving from a more fragmented organization toward one that better reflects customer needs. By bringing together products, subscriptions, events and commercial services, the organization aims to create a more connected customer experience throughout every stage of the customer lifecycle.
AI should strengthen human judgment
The conversation explores how the Financial Times is approaching AI across its business. While AI is helping improve workflows, uncover insights from large datasets and develop new intelligence products, journalism itself continues to be written and edited by people. Slade argues that human judgment remains the organization's greatest differentiator in a world where information is increasingly abundant.
Thinking beyond efficiency
Rather than viewing AI simply as a tool for doing existing work faster, Slade encourages organizations to rethink how products, services and operating models could be designed if they were built today. He also highlights the importance of preserving institutional knowledge, warning that faster outputs should never come at the expense of learning and expertise.
Establishing standards for the AI era
Slade explains why the Financial Times became a founding member of the Standard for Publisher Usage Rights (SPUR) coalition. The initiative aims to establish common standards for licensing journalistic content to AI developers, helping create a sustainable marketplace while ensuring publishers retain control over how their intellectual property is used.
Building a culture of experimentation
Looking ahead, Slade argues that organizations must create space for experimentation if they are to thrive through disruption. Asked how he would invest a hypothetical £10 million, he proposes funding a series of staff-led experiments, recognizing that innovation requires both investment and the willingness to test new ideas.
Watch the full video to hear Lisa McLeod and Jon Slade discuss these topics in detail and their implications for media and beyond.
FT Strategies has supported news and media organizations globally in defining their strategies and goals, as well as in identifying the appropriate target operating model to achieve them. To find out more about how we can help your organization, please get in touch.
