Chris Anderson

Person

The head of TED who invited Coleman Hughes to speak and managed the internal staff backlash.


First Mentioned

2/21/2026, 6:09:26 AM

Last Updated

2/21/2026, 6:10:18 AM

Research Retrieved

2/21/2026, 6:10:18 AM

Summary

Chris Anderson is a British-American businessman and the long-time head of TED, a non-profit organization renowned for its global conferences and idea-based talks. Born in 1957 in Pakistan and educated at the University of Oxford, Anderson initially built a career in media, founding Future Publishing and the video game journalism site IGN. He acquired TED in 2001 through his Sapling Foundation, transforming it into a global media powerhouse. Recently, Anderson has faced public criticism from the hosts of the "All-In Podcast"—Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, David Friedberg, and Chamath Palihapitiya—who accused him and the organization of "institutional capture" and censorship following internal backlash against a talk by Coleman Hughes regarding colorblindness. In February 2025, Anderson announced he would be stepping back from his role as vision steward of TED, naming Sal Khan as his successor.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Born

    1957

  • Role

    Head of TED

  • Spouse

    Jacqueline Novogratz

  • Education

    University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

  • Birthplace

    Pakistan

  • Founder of

    Future Publishing, IGN

  • Nationality

    British-American

Timeline
  • Born in Pakistan to British parents. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1957-01-01

  • Founded Future Publishing in the United Kingdom with a $25,000 loan. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1985-01-01

  • Attended his first TED conference in California. (Source: NPR)

    1998-01-01

  • Acquired TED through his non-profit, the Sapling Foundation. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2001-01-01

  • Married Jacqueline Novogratz. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2008-01-01

  • Criticized by the All-In Podcast hosts for TED's handling of Coleman Hughes' talk on colorblindness, cited as an example of institutional capture. (Source: All-In Podcast)

    2023-09-29

  • Announced he would pass the stewardship of TED to Sal Khan after 25 years of leadership. (Source: TED Talk / NPR)

    2025-02-01

Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson may refer to:

Web Search Results
  • Chris Anderson (writer) - Wikipedia

    Chris Anderson (born July 9, 1961) is an English-American author and entrepreneur. He was with The Economist for seven years before joining Wired "Wired (magazine)") magazine in 2001, where he was the editor-in-chief until 2012. He is known for his 2004 article entitled "The Long Tail", which he later expanded into the 2006 book, The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More "The Long Tail (book)"). He is the cofounder and current CEO of 3D Robotics, a drone manufacturing company. ## Life and work [edit&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Life and work")] ### Early life [edit&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Early life")] [...] Wikimedia Commons) Wikiquote) Wikidata item Appearance From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia British-American author and entrepreneur For the curator of the TED conferences, see Chris Anderson (entrepreneur) "Chris Anderson (entrepreneur)"). | Chris Anderson | | Anderson in 2020 | | Born | (1961-07-09) July 9, 1961 (age 64) London, England, UK | | Citizenship | United States United Kingdom | | Alma mater | George Washington University | | Occupations | CEO of 3D Robotics, author, entrepreneur | | Children | 5 | [...] [edit&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Ventures")] In 2007, Anderson founded GeekDad, a do-it-yourself blog that later became part of Wired.com. He was the editor until the role was handed over to Ken Denmead, and he now serves as editor emeritus of GeekDad. The same year, Anderson founded Booktour.com, a free online service that connected authors on tour with audiences. In September 2011, Booktour.com folded.

  • Chris Anderson (entrepreneur) - Wikipedia

    Chris Anderson (born 1957) is a British-American businessman who is the head of TED "TED (conference)"), a non-profit organization that provides idea-based talks and hosts an annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is also the founder of video game journalism website IGN. ## Early life and education [edit&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Early life and education")] Anderson was born to British parents in Pakistan in 1957. His father was "an eye surgeon and evangelical Christian" and ran a mobile hospital in rural Pakistan. He has two sisters, and is the middle child. [...] In other projects Wikimedia Commons) Wikidata item Appearance From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia British-American businessman (born 1957) For the former editor of Wired magazine, see Chris Anderson (writer) "Chris Anderson (writer)"). | Chris Anderson | | Anderson in 2013 | | Born | 1957 (age 68–69) Pakistan | | Education | Woodstock School Monkton Combe School | | Alma mater | University of Oxford | | Occupations | Journalist, publisher | | Known for | Curator of TED Talks "TED (conference)") Future Publishing | | Spouses | Lucy Evans ​ (divorced)​ Jacqueline Novogratz ​ ​ (m. 2008)​ | | Children | 3 (1 deceased) | | Chris Anderson's voice recorded 26 September 2016 | | Website | www.ted.com/speakers/chris\_anderson\_ted | [...] After returning to the UK in 1984, Anderson was captivated by the home-computer revolution. He became an editor at two of the UK's early computer magazines, Personal Computer Games and Zzap!64. A year later he founded Future Publishing with a $25,000 bank loan. The new company initially focused on specialist computer publications, but he eventually expanded it into other areas such as cycling, music, video games, technology and design. It doubled in size every year for seven years.

  • Chris Anderson: Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Producer

    | | | | | | | | | | | | --- --- --- --- --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- --- | | | | | | $15, free shipping | | | | Listen to "Old Friend" on CD Baby | | Chris Anderson Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Producer | | Chris Anderson has been a mainstay on the Southern Rock scene since the 1970s, playing with, touring, or writing songs in groups such as the Outlaws, Grinderswitch, Lucinda Williams, The Allman Brothers, Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackhawk, Hank Williams Jr, Steven Stills, Johnny Neel, Neil Carswell and many others. His Debut Album “Old Friend” has been described as a cross between Stevie Ray Vaughan Eric Clapton, and Duane Allman. The New York Times described it as one of the 10 best albums you’ve never heard. Rolling Stone Magazine [...] only enhance his songwriting in “Music City.” Anderson is one of Southern Rock’s most notable players and sought after producers. RATTLEBONE Chris Anderson (guitar/vocals) and Johnny Neel (keyboard/vocals) teamed up to form RATTLEBONE, with Dennis Gulley (bass/vocals) and Daryl Burgess(drums/vocals), to bring you the BEST BLEND of Southern Rock and Blues, GUARANTEED TO SATISFY! View Tour dates and purchase the CD at rattlebone.net | | For more information, email info@chrisandersonband.com ©2009 Chris Anderson, all rights reserved website by DesignSpinner | | | | | | | Tremendous vocals, blistering guitar and backed by Gov't Mule drummer Matt Abst (with cameo by Warren Haynes), this release really grooves. A great player that writes good songs and has a good voice as well [...] player that writes good songs and has a good voice as well as playing the heck out of his guitar. If you like the guitar or the blues, don't hesitate and buy this now, you'll be so glad you did. This CD is a must for anyone that truly loves the blues. Chris is able to carry you off not only with the sounds of his guitar wrapping around you but also with his voice as he releases each word. Chris shows off his accomplished guitar artistry as well as with a "Born to sing the Blues" voice, he keeps the party rockin! | | |

  • Chris Anderson: A bold new chapter for TED | TED Talk

    TED is supported by ads and partners Chris Anderson, head of TED, has some big news to share: after 25 years of leading the organization, he's issuing an open invitation to pass on its stewardship to someone new. It could be anyone. Maybe you? In conversation with Jay Herratti (CEO of TED) and Anna Verghese (executive director of The Audacious Project), Anderson shares the big idea that's driven this decision — and why he's convinced it will open the door to a truly exciting future for TED. ## About the speakers Chris Anderson Chris Anderson Chairman, TED See speaker profile Jay Herratti Jay Herratti CEO of TED See speaker profile Anna Verghese Anna Verghese Executive director, The Audacious Project ## Learn more Read more on the TED Blog [...] Ideas change everything SIGN IN MEMBERSHIP TED is supported by ads and partners # A bold new chapter for TED 346,089 plays| Chris Anderson | TED Studio • February 2025 Chris Anderson, head of TED, has some big news to share: after 25 years of leading the organization, he's issuing an open invitation to pass on its stewardship to someone new. It could be anyone. Maybe you? In conversation with Jay Herratti (CEO of TED) and Anna Verghese (executive director of The Audacious Project), Anderson shares the big idea that's driven this decision — and why he's convinced it will open the door to a truly exciting future for TED. TED is supported by ads and partners

  • Head of TED, Chris Anderson, on TED's new chapter - NPR

    Hey, TED Radio listener. It's Manoush, and today we are going behind the scenes a bit with an update about TED. So TED is a nonprofit and it partners with NPR to make this show. But this show is just one of the many, many different things that the TED organization does. There is the TED conference with TED Talks, of course, which you hear every week. But also there's TED's climate initiative called Countdown. There's its Audacious Project, which has given away hundreds of millions of dollars to other organizations. And the man behind all of it is Chris Anderson. Chris is a visionary, a tastemaker, a philanthropist. Over the last few decades, he has turned TED into a globally recognized media organization. But recently, he decided he needed to change things up, and he joined me to explain. [...] ZOMORODI: Thanks, Chris. ANDERSON: ...As to the decision we made. So the person coming in as the new vision steward of TED is none other than Sal Khan, the incredible founder of Khan Academy. So here's a man who believes profoundly in the power of sharing knowledge freely online on the internet and what that can do. And his brilliant ability to explain. Initially, it was just math and science videos, but then it spawned this whole world of educational videos for literally millions of kids and adults. So for him to be interested in teaming up with TED was just a thrill. And as I've got to know him, I've become more and more excited about the potential here. [...] ZOMORODI: We all are TED heads at this point, Chris. ANDERSON: It's a long story, actually. I was a media entrepreneur back in the '80s and '90s. Started in England, published a bunch of magazines, came to America to do the same and was introduced to this quirky conference in California. It was all about technology and entertainment and design, and weirdly how those three things might fit together. And so I think it was 1998 was the first time I went. I fell in love with it. You don't normally fall in love with conferences, but there was... ZOMORODI: No.

Location Data

Chris Drive, Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, Kentucky, United States

residential

Coordinates: 38.0400012, -84.8816175

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