CNN Int’l promotes SA correspondent

CNN International’s South Africa correspondent Eleni Giokos has been given a new role as anchor and correspondent on the news channel and will be moving to the United Arab Emirates for the job.

Giokos was born in Greece and raised in South Africa. In the new position, she will work with Becky Anderson on the WarnerMedia-owned network’s flagship Middle East programme, Connect the World.

According to CNN, Giokos will also continue to anchor her show, Connecting Africa, as well as being involved in the new CNN Marketplace Middle East programme that will launch later in the year.

Giokos has more than 15 years’ international reporting experience in TV, digital, radio and print media. She joined CNN in 2015 and has since reported on the ground across Africa, from Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Zimbabwe, to Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, Lesotho and elsewhere.

Meara Erdozain, senior VP of programming at CNN International, said: “Eleni is an outstanding anchor as well as a skilful and exceptionally versatile correspondent. This move will bring that talent and experience to a new region. Being based in Dubai, one of the world’s most connected cities, will also mean she can maintain her presence in Africa and build on the success of her Connecting Africa show.”

Giokos added: “This is such an exciting time to be moving to the UAE. There are so many interesting business and cultural stories there, and with Dubai Expo on the horizon it is a really dynamic moment. I’m also incredibly passionate about Africa, and the beauty of this move is that I will be able to travel easily across the continent from my new home.”

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