A nominal sum of one pound facilitated the acquisition of a controlling stake in the Evening Standard newspaper in 2009. This transaction, led by Evgeny Lebedev and his father, fundamentally altered London media by transitioning the publication to a free, high-circulation model that distributed 700,000 copies daily shortly after the ownership change.
Background and Education
Born in Moscow in 1980, Lebedev is the son of Alexander Lebedev, a former officer of the KGB and SVR, and Natalia Sokolova. At age eight, he moved to London when his father began an appointment at the Soviet Embassy. He attended St Barnabas and St Philip's Church of England Primary School, followed by Holland Park School and Mill Hill School. He obtained British citizenship in 2010.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Newspaper Acquisitions and Operations
Following the 2009 investment in the Evening Standard, Lebedev expanded his media portfolio in 2010 by purchasing The Independent and The Independent on Sunday. He subsequently launched the daily newspaper i later that year. In 2011, he initiated The Journalism Foundation, which concluded operations after one year. By 2016, his company, Independent Press Ltd, transitioned The Independent to a digital-only format and sold the i to Johnston Press.
Political Appointment and Public Scrutiny
In November 2020, Lebedev was appointed a crossbench life peer in the House of Lords. His full title is Baron Lebedev, of Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and of Siberia in the Russian Federation. The nomination by then-prime minister Boris Johnson faced criticism regarding his father's history in Soviet intelligence. Although Parliament passed a motion in 2022 to compel the government to release security advice related to his peerage, the Cabinet Office declined to publish the documents, citing national security concerns.
Real Estate and Other Interests
Lebedev has held various property assets, including a central London flat and the Grade II-listed Stud House near Hampton Court Palace. He co-owns a riverside pub in Limehouse, The Grapes, with Ian McKellen and Sean Mathias. Previously, he purchased the Château Gütsch in Lucerne, Switzerland, before selling it to Kirill Androsov. He also maintains ownership stakes in Italian estates located in Ronti and near Monte Tezio.
Fast facts
- Born: 1980, Moscow
- Citizenship: United Kingdom, Russia
- Education: Holland Park School, Mill Hill School
- House of Lords Title: Baron Lebedev
- Appointment Date: November 2020
- Notable Role: Patron of the Evening Standard's Dispossessed Fund
Questions readers ask
What media outlets has Evgeny Lebedev owned?
He has held stakes in the Evening Standard, The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, and the newspaper i.
What is Lord Lebedev's role in the House of Lords?
He sits as a crossbencher but has been noted for low levels of activity, having attended the House only twice as of January 2024.
Achievements
- Educated at Mill Hill School and Holland Park School
.jpg)
