Matthew Symonds is Defence and Diplomatic Editor covering a wide range of security-related and foreign-policy issues including arms control and nuclear proliferation. He joined The Economist in 1997 as Technology and Communications Editor, later taking the roles of Political Editor and author of the "Bagehot" column, followed by Industry Editor from May 2007 until August 2010 when he took up his current role. Mr Symonds is also a founding director of Reach-To-Teach, a charity that brings school education to tribal and migrant children in Gujarat. Mr Symonds is the author of “Softwar: and intimate portrait of Larry Ellison and Oracle” published in 2003. Prior to The Economist Mr Symonds was chief economics commentator of the Daily Telegraph (1981-86), Co-founder and Editorial Director of Newspaper Publishing plc (1986-94), Deputy Editor and the Executive Editor of the Independent (1986-94), business columnist for the Sunday Express (1995) and Director of Strategy for BBC Worldwide Television (1995-97).

Global Economy, Political, Foreign Policy, Policy, Public Policy, Media Professionals, Journalism, Security & Defense, Homeland Security & Terrorism, Economy