ITV’s Laura Kuenssberg joins BBC Newsnight

Laura Kuenssberg will be joining BBC Newsnight as Chief Correspondent from mid-February 2014.

Laura, who joined ITV News as Business Editor in 2011, will also regularly present the programme.

Kuenssberg is the latest in a series of appointments made by new Newsnight Editor Ian Katz as part of the transformation of the BBC Two flagship news and current affairs programme.

Chris Cook, currently executive comment editor of the Financial Times, joins Newsnight as Policy Editor, while David Grossman, currently the show’s political correspondent, becomes Technology Editor.

With a background in both politics and business, Laura will cover stories across a wide range of areas, leading the programme’s coverage of major running stories.

“I’m thrilled that Laura will be joining Newsnight,” said Ian Katz.

“She’s widely admired as one of the most authoritative and accessible broadcasters in the country and has a brilliant nose for a story, as well as a wealth of experience across a range of different areas. She’ll add real firepower to Newsnight’s reporting team as well as a fresh and compelling voice to the show’s presenter line-up.”

Laura added: “Working with the team at ITV News to cover the intense challenges faced by business, families and the wider economy has been a real privilege and I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of years.

“But I’m truly delighted to be joining a reinvigorated Newsnight, both to present and report at such an exciting time. It’s been a long-held ambition of mine to work full time on the programme and I can’t wait to get started.”