It is a great honour to be taking up this crucial role at the BBC at this critical moment in the country’s economic history.

Islam, who most recently served as Political Editor at Sky News has over a decade of economic journalism experience. Having graduated with an economics degree, he previously held positions as The Observer’s Economics Correspondent and Economics Editor for Channel 4 News.

During his career he has exposed the Icelandic banking crisis, watched Lehman Brothers fall from Wall Street, investigated emerging economies in India and Singapore and interviewed everyone from the Prime Minister to the President of the World Bank. Faisal has been decorated with several RTS awards including interview of the year in 2017.

Faisal Islam says: “It is a great honour to be taking up this crucial role at the BBC at this critical moment in the country’s economic history. Economics has been the heart of how I have viewed the rapid changes here and around the world over the past two decades - the best lens on the world. I am at heart a numbers man and I look forward to sharing the numbers stories that matter for all of the BBC’s viewers, listeners and readers over the years to come”.

Fran Unsworth, Director News and Current Affairs, says: “Faisal has serious economic and political pedigree. I look forward to him being at the forefront of our reporting and presenting of economics at a critical time, working across all platforms in BBC News, documentaries and our other landmark programming.”

Faisal Islam will take up his role in the New Year.

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