Simon Jack

Simon Jack (born 10 May 1971) is a British business journalist and Business Editor for the BBC, known for appearing on BBC Breakfast until September 2011 and on BBC Radio 4's Today until February 2016.^[1]

Education

Simon Jack attended Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby and graduated from St John's College, Oxford with a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.^[2]

Career

Before entering journalism, Jack worked for a decade as a corporate and investment banker in London, New York and Bermuda. He has said that he neither liked the work, nor showed much ability at it.^[3] In 2003 he joined the BBC's business and economics unit and since then has worked on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme and Radio 5 Live's Wake Up to Money. He has also presented business and financial podcasts for The Daily Telegraph.

Jack was frequently seen on British television during the fortnight beginning on 7 September 2008 during which he reported for BBC News, the BBC News Channel and Working Lunch on the banking crisis that saw the Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, the bailout of AIG and the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS. He was often seen reporting from the London Stock Exchange, Canary Wharf and outside the offices of HBOS and Lehman Brothers in London.

Jack replaced Declan Curry as business presenter for BBC Breakfast in October 2008. In April 2010, he presented BBC Breakfast alongside Sian Williams while regular presenter Bill Turnbull followed the 2010 general election campaign trail. In September 2011, he left the BBC Breakfast team to join BBC Radio 4's Today.

On 13 April 2015, Jack appeared in a BBC Panorama series relating to the survivors of suicide; Jack's father died by suicide aged 44. Jack investigates why more middle-aged men kill themselves than any other group.

On 5 February 2016, Jack was appointed the BBC's Business Editor, replacing the promoted Kamal Ahmed.^[4]

Personal life

Jack lives in London and supports Liverpool FC. He is married to Suzy, eldest daughter of the late composer John Barry. He has two step-daughters, Phoebe and Florence.^[5]

References