Biography

Xan Smiley joined The Economist in 1983 as Middle East editor and became political editor and “Bagehot” columnist in 1992. In 1995 he became Europe editor, starting the “Charlemagne” column, and in October 2003 he became the Middle East and Africa Editor. Previously he was Washington correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph (1989-92), Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph (1986-89), an editorial leader writer at The Times (1981-83), and the editor (and later co-owner) of Africa Confidential, a specialist newsletter.