Manfred Pagel - Direct, focused, apologetic

In 1982 I was detached from the World Desk for six months to organise Reuters coverage of the World Cup in Spain and report on the Falklands War from Buenos Aires. On my return Manfred called me into his office to thank me. “I am sorry I have never spoken to you before,” he said. “But you were doing okay so there was no reason to do so .”

Manfred could be direct. But he was also extremely focused on the job. The task of transforming the editorial operation was so demanding there was room for little else. ■