Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson (born 1957) is a British-American businessman who is the head of TED, 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 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. At the University of Oxford, Anderson initially studied physics before changing to philosophy, politics and economics, and graduated in 1978.

Career Anderson began a career in journalism, working in newspapers and radio. He produced a world news service in the Seychelles. 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.

In 2006, TED experimented with posting some of its talks on the Internet. Their viral success encouraged Anderson to develop the organization as a global media initiative devoted to "ideas worth spreading". In June 2015, the organization posted its 2,000th talk online. The talks are free to view. Through a related project, they have been translated into more than 100 languages with the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. Viewership has grown to approximately one billion views per year.

Three years later, the TED-Ed program was launched. It offers free educational videos and tools to students and teachers.

In 2012, Anderson was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.

In May 2016, Anderson published TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking which offers tips and advice for public speaking. The book became a New York Times bestseller.

In December 2019, Anderson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education by the University of Bath. The award recognises Anderson's 'outstanding services to publishing, education, technology and business'.

In January 2024, Anderson published a book titled Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading.

In October 2025, Anderson announced that Sal Khan would succeed him as TED’s "Vision Steward", joining TED’s board to help guide the organization’s long-term mission. Anderson remains on TED’s board and continues to participate in fundraising and programming.

Personal life Anderson married Lucy Evans. Together they had three daughters, Zoe, Elizabeth and Anna, before their divorce. The eldest, Zoe, died in 2010 at age 24, from carbon monoxide poisoning due to an improperly-installed bathroom boiler.

In 2008, Anderson married Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Acumen, an organization that pioneered social impact investing.