Sky News Arabia has appointed Angelos Frangopoulos as the chief executive and managing editor of the Abu Dhabi-based multi-platform Arabic language news organisation.
Mr Frangopoulos, who will start his new role later in 2018, joins Sky News Arabia from Australian News Channel, where he held the same position, Sky said in a statement on Tuesday.
In his new role, Mr Frangopoulos will be responsible for global programming operations for broadcast, digital and radio platforms of Sky News Arabia, a joint venture between Sky and Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation. The news outlet reaches 50 million households and employs more than 500 staff across the Middle East, London and Washington.
Mr Frangopoulos will be responsible for the strategic direction, business growth, digital expansion, commercial performance and editorial guidelines of the company. Supported by the Sky News Arabia editorial board, he will also be responsible for setting the editorial direction of the news organisation.
"Digital innovation is critical to the global growth of any media business, especially so in a region where younger and highly technologically literate audiences are the key demographic," Mr Frangopoulos said.
The day-to-day content will be headed by recently announced head of news, Hani AbuAyyash, who will oversee content production on Sky News Arabia’s TV, website and social media platforms, as well as Sky News radio broadcasting via internet and shortwave.
“With an extensive track record of expanding businesses, exceptional leadership and driving operational efficiency through innovation, we believe that Angelos is the right fit for Sky News Arabia and will take it to new heights,” Andrew Grifith, Sky’s group chief operating officer, who is also on the board of Sky News Arabia, said.
“In just over five years, Sky News has become one of the top news channels in the Middle East and beyond and we look forward to further expanding the channel’s reach as we continue to deliver news to and from the region."