Kamal Ahmed named BBC’s new Economics Editor; replaces Robert Peston

Kamal Ahmed is to become the BBC’s new Economics Editor.

In replacing Robert Peston as Economics Editor, Kamal will lead the BBC’s economic coverage and will have a broad remit on finance policy stories including leading the BBC’s reporting on the Treasury and other finance stories for all news outlets.

“I have had a wonderful time as Business Editor of the BBC and am delighted and privileged to be moving to this new, connected, role – bringing home the importance of economics to our UK and global audiences and covering the policy areas that affect our financial outlook on the world,” said Kamal

“Following the financial crisis, we are experiencing a fascinating and dislocating time in economics and politics, two areas so intimately related. I look forward to working with all my brilliant colleagues, doing our best to explain the economic world to the millions of people who turn to the BBC every day.”

Kamal joined the BBC as Business Editor in March 2014 and has reported on the most significant business stories and interviews with key business leaders – including his Panorama investigation on what went wrong at Tesco following the accounting crisis. Tonight, Kamal has an extended Radio 4 interview with former Barclays Chief Executive Antony Jenkins, having been the first to reveal he had been directly fired by the chairman, John MacFarlane.

James Harding, Director of News and Current Affairs, added: “The BBC’s Economics Editor is one of the most important jobs in journalism. It requires close examination of the Treasury, the Bank of England and policy across government as well as the capacity to report the forces that shape the business environment, the global economy and all of our household budgets. I know that Kamal will bring intelligence and insight to that important task.”

The BBC will be appointing a new Business Editor early in the New Year.