Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is a business intelligence company affiliated The Economist magazine.
Contents
History
The Economist Intelligence Unit was founded in 1946. In a promtional pamplet published to mark its 60th Anniversary, the Unit gave the following account of its origins:
In London ... an Englishman's thoughts turned to commerce. Even before the tide of the war had turned in the Allies' favour, Geoffrey Crowther, the venerable editor of The Economist, saw the need for an "Intelligence Branch". Its purpose: to conduct research that would help business navigate the difficult postwar environment. In October 1946 he advertised for a "Director of Intelligence", the formal beginnings of the Economist Intelligence Unit. [1]
The Unit's first director was Geoffrey Browne, [2] who had been economic adviser and member of the UK Agricultural Delegation to the Dominions and the United States in 1944-45. [3] The Unit had an initial staff of three and at first recruited straight from university, but later began recruiting experienced economists. [4]
The company was reconstituted as a wholly owned subsidiary of The Economist in 1956. [5] Browne retired as chairman and managing director in January 1971, and was replaced by Ian Trafford. [6]
Brian Crozier the covert cold warrior worked there early in his career. Crozier was not the only member of the EIU to have intelligence contacts as he reported in his account of his first visit to MI6 HQ in Century House in around 1963. He reports that his SIS 'friend' Ronald Franks:
- escorted me to an upper floor, where he introduced me to the head of his department, which dealt with Sino-Soviet questions. This was my first shock. I had met the man, Noel Cunningham (not his real name), several times. That day and on future days, I met a number of people whom I had talked to, in the Traveller's or elsewhere, in the belief that they were Foreign Office. One of them I had known as a colleague when he had worked for The Economist Intelligence Unit. Later on, at Century House, I met a number of non-officials whom I had known for years, whose contact with MI-6 was similar to mine.[7]
It is not clear from this that the former colleague was at EIU at the same time as working for MI6 or was recruited after he left the Unit.
People
- Brian Crozier | Joan Hoey | Charles Jenkins | Edward Shackleton, circa 1982 [8]
Related, Contact, References and Resources
Related
Business International Corporation
Contact
Resources
Economist Intelligence Unit, Celebrating 60 years ...with a glimpse of the future
References
- ↑ Economist Intelligence Unit, Celebrating 60 years ...with a glimpse of the future, p.3
- ↑ Economist Intelligence Unit, Celebrating 60 years ...with a glimpse of the future, p.3
- ↑ Geoffrey S. Browne, 'Europe's Economic Integration — A New Chapter', The IPA Review, Vol 14 - No.1, January-March 1960, p.25
- ↑ 'Obituary: Geoffrey Browne', The Times, 27 February 1984; p.14; Issue 61768; col G
- ↑ 'Obituary: Geoffrey Browne', The Times, 27 February 1984; p.14; Issue 61768; col G
- ↑ 'Appointments', Guardian, 5 January 1971; p.14
- ↑ Brian Crozier 'Inside Century House', The Times, June 28, 1993, Monday
- ↑ TAM DALYELL 'Obituary: Lord Shackleton' The Independent (London) September 24, 1994, Saturday, SECTION: GAZETTE PAGE; Page 43
