John Stephens - implacable in managing general news interests

In the early 1970s, John Stephens was implacable in managing the General News Division interests in France and Belgium in a very difficult business climate. I was the GND chief representative in France then so worked closely with him especially on the French service which, I was told ex-cathedra by the head of AFP, Jean Marin, was not allowed to be distributed in France, a warning from on high of which we took no notice and were rewarded by President Pompidou referring to Reuters as “la mechante agence”. 

At the time, he was the only person I knew who was to be found at the brasserie on the corner of Grands Boulevards eating both a sole and a chateaubriand for lunch.

His Tuscan home was a superb building complete with frescos where there was nothing more pleasant than to sit on the terrace at night sipping wine or a negroni - and not talking too much about old Reuters days. ■