John Carreyrou

John Carreyrou
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Name	John Carreyrou
Birth date	1963
Birth place	Montreal
Occupation	Investigative journalist
Employer	The Wall Street Journal
Notable works	The Dropout; "Bad Blood"
Awards	Pulitzer Prize

John Carreyrou is an investigative journalist and author known for uncovering the fraud at Theranos and producing influential reporting that led to legal and regulatory actions. He worked for The Wall Street Journal and later wrote the book "Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup," which inspired a television series. His reporting has intersected with figures, companies, and institutions across Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and the U.S. legal system.

Early life and education

Born in Montreal, Carreyrou studied at institutions including McGill University and later pursued graduate work at University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholarship candidate. He trained in journalism through programs associated with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and gained early experience at newspapers such as the Miami Herald and regional publications. His formative years connected him to professional networks in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Career and reporting

Carreyrou joined The Wall Street Journal, where he covered topics spanning healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and financial markets. He reported on corporate conduct involving companies like Enron, Theranos, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen, and regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission. His investigative pieces drew on sources from institutions including Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard Medical School, and laboratories affiliated with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over his career he interviewed executives, scientists, and regulators connected to corporations like Apple Inc., Google, Oracle Corporation, and Theranos' leadership, while examining interactions with investment firms such as Vanguard Group and Sequoia Capital.

Theranos investigation and The Dropout

Carreyrou's probe into Theranos began with reporting that questioned the company's technology and practices, prompting scrutiny from journalists at outlets including The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and Reuters. His articles led to investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and criminal charges pursued by the U.S. Department of Justice. The reporting featured testimony and documents involving figures like Elizabeth Holmes, Sunny Balwani, board members from Walgreens, and investors such as Rupert Murdoch and Tim Draper. Carreyrou expanded his coverage into a book and collaborated with producers of the television dramatization The Dropout, which portrayed events investigated by journalists, prosecutors, and regulators including the San Francisco Chronicle and federal courts.

Awards and recognition

For his investigative work, Carreyrou received honors from institutions such as the Pulitzer Prize board, journalism organizations including the George Polk Awards, the Scripps Howard Foundation, and the Investigative Reporters and Editors association. His reporting was acknowledged by academic institutions like Columbia University and professional bodies including the National Press Club and the New York Public Library. Peer recognition also came from media outlets such as Time (magazine), The Atlantic, and industry award committees tied to business journalism.

Later work and publications

After the Theranos series and the success of "Bad Blood," Carreyrou continued reporting on corporate fraud, medical device companies, and regulatory failures involving firms like Quest Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories, and Roche. He contributed analysis in outlets including The New Yorker, The New York Times, and appeared on programs produced by CNN, PBS, and NPR. His later writing explored intersections among startups, venture capital firms such as Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz, and governance practices at public companies listed on exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.

Personal life and legacy

Carreyrou's work influenced policy debates in legislative bodies including hearings in Congress and enforcement priorities at agencies like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He has been cited in academic research at universities such as Stanford University Graduate School of Business and Harvard Kennedy School on topics of corporate governance and investor protection. Colleagues and critics from publications including The New York Times Magazine and Vanity Fair have debated the role of investigative journalism in tech culture, while his reporting remains a case study in journalism programs at Columbia University and Medill School of Journalism.

Category:Canadian journalists Category:Investigative journalists