Fictional Columnist Returns To <i>Financial Times</i>

Today, we received a formal announcement from The Financial Times regarding the return of columnist Martin Lukes. Announced the salmon-colored paper: "On Thursday 5th November Martin Lukes, iconic leader, trendsetter, multiple award winner and former CEO of Atlanta-based a-b glöbâl, returns to the Financial Times with a new weekly print and online column." According to the announcement, Lukes is currently serving the rest of his sentence for insider trading but will write his column from inside the prison, relaying information through his wife, Sherril. A financial paper publishing a column from a convicted white collar criminal while he's still behind bars would be an amazing story, if Lukes himself wasn't a complete fabrication. Lukes, and the book he penned called Who Moved my BlackBerry?, are creations of FT writer Lucy Kellaway. It's sort of like Newsweek's Dan Lyon's creation of Fake Steve Jobs, without the very obvious satirical title. Although Lukes stopped writing his original FT column after being arrested for insider trading in 2007, it seems like Kellaway has finally decided to resurrect the character. Could it have something to do with the fact that business journalism could use a laugh right now or is the FT poking fun at white collar criminals like Conrad Black writing for pubs like The Daily Beast from prison? The full release about Lukes, after the jump. MARTIN LUKES RETURNS TO CREOVATE THE FT LONDON: 3rd November 2009: On Thursday 5th November Martin Lukes, iconic leader, trendsetter, multiple award winner and former CEO of Atlanta-based a-b glöbâl, returns to the Financial Times with a new weekly print and online column. Lukes, co-author of Martin Lukes: Who Moved my BlackBerry?, has spent the last two years in jail after being sentenced for insider trading in December 2007, and will correspond through his wife, Sherril, until his release which is expected in January 2010. Martin Lukes commented: "I am humbled to have this opportunity to continue my career in the 'literary world' by sharing with fans my deeply private philosophies and a profound journey of personal development in the last couple of years. Being 'on the inside' allows plenty of time for blue-sky thinking, and I am certain I will have more Creovation than ever to offer the FT." Lukes has won countless awards, including 'BT Outstanding Individual Contribution to Work Life Balance 2004' (runner up), and 'Best Change of DNA in Outsourced Space 2003' (Sponsored by Hyatt Regency). A video with Lucy Kellaway talking about her correspondence with Martin Lukes will be available on FT.com in the next couple of days.

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Fictional Columnist Returns To Financial Times

Amanda Ernst

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Amanda Ernst