Anne McElvoy

Anne McElvoy is Executive Editor at POLITICO and co-host of the award-winning podcast Politics at Sam and Anne's, where she partners with Sky News' Sam Coates to deliver essential daily analysis of British politics. A global reporter for Axel Springer and regular BBC Radio 4 contributor, she hosts Free Thinking and serves as a panellist on The Moral Maze. Her distinguished career includes senior editorial roles at The Economist, Evening Standard, and The Independent, alongside reporting from Moscow during the Yeltsin years and covering the fall of the Berlin Wall. Audiences gain sharp political insight and nuanced understanding of complex policy debates through her engaging sessions.

When Anne McElvoy arrived in Berlin as a student in the 1980s to study East German literature and censorship at Humboldt University, she witnessed history unfolding firsthand. That early immersion in a divided Europe shaped a journalistic career defined by her ability to decode complex political shifts and make them accessible to wide audiences. From reporting on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany as a foreign correspondent for The Times to serving as Moscow Bureau Chief during the turbulent Yeltsin years, she built a reputation for clarity and insight during moments of profound change. Her co-authored work with Markus Wolf, Man Without A Face: The Autobiography Of Communism's Greatest Spymaster, became a bestseller, whilst her own book, The Saddled Cow: East Germany's Life And Legacy, captured the human cost of political transformation.

Now executive editor at POLITICO and co-host of the award-winning podcast Politics at Sam and Anne's, Anne partners daily with Sky News' Sam Coates to deliver essential analysis of British politics to a growing audience. As a global reporter for the Axel Springer network, she covers major political developments across the UK and Europe, combining her deep understanding of policy with an instinct for the stories that matter most. Her broadcast work continues to thrive on BBC Radio 4, where she hosts the late-night discussion programme Free Thinking and serves as a panellist on The Moral Maze, exploring ethical dilemmas with rigour and warmth. Her previous role as executive editor for strategy at The Economist and host of The Economist Asks podcast further cemented her authority on international affairs and policy debates. Anne has also presented Across the Red Line, bringing opposing voices together with conflict resolution experts to foster genuine dialogue, and produced major radio series on British political traditions for BBC Radio 4.

Anne helps audiences navigate political complexity with confidence and nuance, translating dense policy debates into clear, actionable understanding. Her sessions combine historical perspective with real-time political analysis, equipping leaders and organisations to anticipate change and respond strategically. Whether exploring the implications of shifting electoral landscapes, the dynamics of international relations, or the ethical dimensions of political decision-making, she creates space for thoughtful reflection and practical insight. Audiences leave with sharper critical thinking skills, a deeper grasp of the forces shaping public life, and the ability to engage more effectively with the political and policy challenges that define our times.