REUTERS APPOINTS ÉRIC BARADAT AS GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Reuters has appointed Éric Baradat as its new Global Director of Photography, based in London. A veteran photojournalist with more than three decades at AFP, Baradat has overseen coverage of major global events and award-winning imagery, and will now lead Reuters’ photographic strategy, innovation and editorial standards.

Reuters has announced the appointment of Éric Baradat as its new Global Director of Photography, bringing one of the most experienced figures in international photojournalism into a pivotal leadership role within the organisation.

The appointment was shared with staff in a note from Tom Platt, Reuters’ Deputy Global Managing Editor of World News, who confirmed that Baradat will be based in London and will report directly to him. Baradat is expected to join the organisation in early June, marking a significant addition to the news agency’s global editorial leadership.

Baradat arrives from Agence France-Presse, where he spent more than three decades building a reputation as one of the most influential figures in contemporary news photography. During his tenure at the Paris-based international news agency, he oversaw photographic coverage of some of the world’s most defining moments across politics, conflict, sport and global crises.

His leadership spanned coverage of multiple Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups, alongside major geopolitical developments including conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and extensive reporting from across the Middle East. Baradat also guided photographic documentation of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and major political developments in the United States, including the 2016 United States presidential election and the early years of the Donald Trump administration.

Under his direction, AFP photographers captured some of the most widely recognised images of recent decades. Among them were striking visual accounts of the war in Syria and the conflict in Afghanistan, work that helped the agency secure its first Pulitzer Prizes for photography. Baradat’s period at AFP also coincided with several iconic images that travelled rapidly around the world, including the unforgettable moment when Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, and the viral photograph of Bernie Sanders sitting cross-legged in mittens at the 2021 US presidential inauguration.

Most recently, Baradat served as Global News Deputy Director and Director of Photography at AFP, overseeing not only photography but also the agency’s infographics, data journalism and archive teams. His work in developing verification practices and maintaining rigorous editorial standards has earned him wide respect within the global news industry.

At Reuters, Baradat will be responsible for guiding the agency’s photographic coverage across its worldwide network, ensuring the organisation continues to deliver images that combine speed, depth and visual storytelling. According to Platt, his leadership will play a crucial role in maintaining Reuters’ ambition to remain “first and best” in photography while driving innovation and upholding the agency’s aesthetic and editorial standards.

Baradat’s arrival reflects Reuters’ continued investment in visual journalism at a time when powerful imagery remains central to how audiences around the world understand global events. With his extensive experience and record of shaping award-winning coverage, the agency expects him to strengthen its position at the forefront of international photojournalism.