Sitting comfortably in a Dublin pub overlooking the River Liffey, Peter Vandermeersch’s first reaction was both emphatic and categoric: No.  Having just turned 57, the Belgian-born journalist and editor had the next phase of his life sketched out and it involved a reporting sinecure in Paris, not a management function in Dublin. Just weeks before, Vandermeersch had announced his intention to step down as editor of NRC Handelsblad, the paper of record in the Netherlands, and his final executive function was to appoint himself to its Paris bureau.  Vandermeersch had gone through all the usual rituals of departure – he…

Want to continue reading?

Introductory offer: Sign up today and pay €200 for an annual membership, a saving of €50.

Subscribe

Cancel at any time.

Are you already a member? .