As the Twin Towers collapsed and Washington was under attack, George Entwistle was just starting as Editor of BBC's Newsnight. At our London Autumn Open Day George, who is a Management Futures client, reflected on the leadership challenges posed by such a massive news event:

George Entwistle’s first day as Editor of BBC2's flagship news programme Newsnight was September 10th 2001. Just a few hours later he was to face the biggest test of his professional life. His memories are even more vivid than most.

"I remember thinking – quite simply – am I equal to this? And yet stories of that complexity and horror are what journalism is all about. The challenge was immense. It was an amazing time. Such a huge story."

Entwistle was the guest at Management Futures Open Forum held at the Shaw Plaza Hotel, London on September 12th.

Reflecting on his role as manager (editor) and team leader, Entwistle remembers a tremendous sense of mutual support and encouragement. "It was hard to believe we were living through it, but it was team work, our work, both within Newsnight and across the BBC as a whole", he said.

Following an initial career in consumer journalism, Entwistle switched to the broadcast media almost 20 years ago. He gradually worked his way up via programmes such as Panorama, The World Tonight (BBC Radio 4) and On the Record (on which he was promoted to Producer) before working for Newsnight as Deputy Editor and now Editor.

"I love the programme. It is obliged to be intelligent. Whilst TV is inevitably about sensation it is also a sophisticated medium where impact is always important.

"The challenge for Newsnight is to find something new at the end of a news day. We want to stop people going to bed!"

In all of this Entwistle is sure that effective management, team support and delegation is at the heart of a successful operation. The BBC management structure ensures that this is in place.

"September 11th was so important, so big, that all of us involved in it will obviously never forget the challenge that it presented to us in our professional lives. I learnt a great deal from that experience."