Franz Wild on investigating the rich and powerful

Simon and Rachel speak to Franz Wild, who has been the Bureau of Investigative Journalism's CEO and editor-in-chief since July 2025. Previously, Franz led the Bureau's investigations into how the UK facilitates kleptocracy and global corruption, landing front-page splashes in the New York Times and Sunday Times, and helping prompt backbench MPs to push for measures to curb ‘lawfare’ by private investigators working for oligarchs and autocrats. Before that, Franz spent 13 years as a reporter for Bloomberg, covering everything from politics to economics and mining in west, central and southern Africa, as well as London. He has led investigations into grand corruption, fraud, insider trading and everything in between. We spoke to Franz about his early career as a young correspondent in the Congo, later investigative projects for Bloomberg and his current role at the Bureau.