January 25, 2022
Today, Bloomberg News announced the appointment of Victoria Wakely as its first U.K. National Editor. She joins the global news organisation after spending more than two decades at the BBC where she held major editorial roles across its flagship programmes.
Wakely’s appointment takes place prior to a significant expansion of Bloomberg’s journalism targeted to U.K. audiences planned for the Spring of 2022.
In this newly created role, Wakely will direct coverage of the U.K. across all beats, setting the agenda in Bloomberg’s biggest European market. She will be responsible for expanding Bloomberg’s reach across all platforms, and developing news products that engage new audiences. Under her leadership, Bloomberg will grow its team of U.K.-focused reporters and editors.
“Victoria is a highly distinguished editor who has steered some of Britain’s most influential news programmes,” said David Merritt, Bloomberg Senior Executive Editor for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “We are looking forward to her joining Bloomberg, where her leadership and editorial talent will be invaluable as we expand our U.K. offering.”
Since May 2021, Wakely has served as Senior Adviser to Editorial and Charter Review in the BBC Director-General’s office, a role in which she managed the Serota Review of BBC editorial processes, governance, and culture. Prior to that, she was Editor of BBC Radio 4’s ”World at One” and “World This Weekend” from 2018-2021, where she led a large team of journalists.
Wakely spent a total of ten years over her career working on Radio 4’s “Today” programme, including as Acting Editor (2016-2017) during the 2017 election campaign. Other positions she has held at the BBC include Senior Policy Adviser to BBC News (2017-2018), Senior Editorial Adviser to the BBC Trust, (2012-2013) and Editor of Radio 4’s “Any Questions” and “Start the Week” (2002-2012).
Wakely will report to Merritt and will be based in Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London, starting in April.