Stanley Pignal bio

general use bio for whoever needs it

I write the Charlemagne column on European affairs for The Economist, where I also serve as Brussels bureau chief.

From September 2018 to December 2021 I was based in Paris, where I wrote about pan-European business, finance and economics. Before that I was in Mumbai as the South Asia business and finance correspondent for The Economist.

From October 2012 to December 2015 I was based in London as the finance correspondent, then banking editor. I also hosted The Economist’s “Money Talks” weekly podcast. I wrote the 16-page special report on Fintech.

Previously I was at the Financial Times, mainly as its Brussels correspondent (2009–2012).

I do occasional broadcast work — the best way to reach me is on Twitter via DM or http://mediadirectory.economist.com/people/stanley-pignal/

Before that, I was a financial analyst at Royal Dutch Shell from 2002 to 2007, specialising in investment economics for acquisitions and divestments; transactions, corporate finance and reporting.

Personal:

I’m a graduate of the London School of Economics and an alumnus of Sevenoaks School, UK.

My wife is Elvira Eilert Pignal, whose professional profile you can find here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elvira-eilert-pignal-55272011/?originalSubdomain=fr

I am a fourth generation descendant of Tomas Bat’a, the founder of Bata shoes (I am not connected to the business but some of my family are). You can read about my late grandmother here.

Contact:

You can email me at [firstlast@economist.com] but please don’t add me to distribution lists without my prior consent.

I tweet: @spignal

Last updated: May 2018