ASIA-PACIFIC – SINGAPORE, JANUARY 22, 2013 – BBC World News as announced the appointment of Linda Yueh as chief business correspondent, a new Singapore-based position that signals the channel’s continuing commitment to Asia and determination to expand the breadth and depth of its international business coverage.
BBC is investing heavily in new programs and facilities for its international news channel, as it seeks to build on recent successes building audiences and reputation around the world. Last week the channel unveiled a dramatic new look when it re-launched from its new studios in central London. A refreshed schedule includes a new daily program, "Global", presented by long-time BBC News presenter and reporter Jon Sopel. Other recent appointments include Yalda Hakim, one of Australia’s brightest international journalists who joined the channel as a current affairs correspondent and presenter for a new weekly current affairs program which goes on air in the Spring.
Yueh will be based in Singapore, and will travel extensively throughout Asia and globally to cover the main economics and business news stories. In addition to reporting across BBC outlets on TV, radio and online, she will host her own weekly business program that will provide expert commentary and insight into business, political and macro-economic trends. She already has a strong online profile, and this will continue as she takes on her new role for the BBC in April.
Yueh was most recently the London-based economics editor for Bloomberg Television and brings with her a wealth of experience in business journalism. Prior to joining Bloomberg, she was a full-time economist and a regular media commentator. She is currently a Fellow in Economics at Oxford University and an Adjunct Professor at the London Business School. She is also an associate of the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Centre for Economic Performance as well as of IDEAS: the International Affairs, Diplomacy & Strategy research center. She previously worked as an international corporate lawyer with the New York-based law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and served as a special advisor to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Richard Porter, controller of English, Global News said: “With her experience as a journalist, an academic, and an economist, Linda is the ideal candidate to be the BBC’s Chief Business Correspondent. She will be able to go behind the numbers and delve deeper into stories as she provides incisive coverage and economic analysis of breaking news stories. As part of our on-going commitment to Asia, Linda is the latest addition to a very talented pool of news correspondents currently based in the region, and will fit well into our plans to expand our global coverage in 2013.”
Yueh said: “I am excited to join the BBC as its Chief Business Correspondent. At a time of rapid change in the world economy, I relish this opportunity to report on global business and present my show from a part of the world that is developing at a remarkable pace with vast implications for our everyday lives. I look forward to working with Robert Peston, for whom I have great respect, and the other talented journalists at the BBC – who set the standard for credibility and impartiality in reporting from around the world."
