Current occupation: Editor of the Financial Times

Former employers: Forbes Magazine

Education: Syracuse University, Columbia University

Nationality: British-Lebanese

Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Roula Khalaf became the first female editor of the Financial Times after serving as the newspaper’s Middle East, foreign and deputy editor. 

Winner of the Peace Through Media Award, Khalaf began her career as a staff writer at Forbes Magazine in New York. In 1995, she began working with the Financial Times, first as a correspondent for North Africa, then for the Middle East. She later served as Middle East editor, then as foreign editor. 

After almost 20 years at the FT, Khalaf was promoted to deputy editor of the newspaper. In addition to her responsibilities in this role, she wrote regularly on world affairs, Middle East politics and business. Khalaf succeeded Lionel Barber as editor of the paper in 2020, becoming the first female editor in the 131-year history of the FT.

Khalaf is known for her coverage of Jordan Belfort, the infamous stockbroker who became known as the wolf in the film “The Wolf of Wall Street.”