The BBC have announced the appointment of Caitríona Perry as chief presenter on the BBC’s news channel – BBC News – which broadcasts around the world, including the UK, North America and Singapore.

Caitríona will join recently appointed chief presenter Sumi Somaskanda to anchor out of Washington D.C, reinforcing the BBC’s commitment to better serve North American audiences with more breaking news coverage and in-depth analysis from the region.

Caitríona joins the BBC from RTÉ – Ireland’s national public service broadcaster where she served as the presenter of the country’s main evening news programme and an anchor of special event programmes. Prior to that, she was RTÉ’s US Correspondent based in Washington D.C. where she covered the Obama-Biden and the Trump-Pence administrations, the 2016 elections and all aspects of US economic, political, cultural and sporting life. She has written two best-selling and critically acclaimed books on US politics. She’s also worked as a broadcast news correspondent, documentary maker and a programme editor. She has reported for radio, tv, digital and social platforms from across the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Australia. She has interviewed many heads of state including US President Joe Biden, and his predecessors Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

"I’m delighted to be joining the BBC at this time of its expansion in the US. There is no other news organisation globally which has the same ability and resources to bring the most important news to so many people with impartiality, urgency, accuracy and style,” says Caitríona Perry. “I look forward to continuing my career in public service journalism at the forefront of reporting all the biggest stories around the world."

Paul Royall, Executive News Editor for the BBC News channel, says: “We are thrilled to welcome Caitríona to BBC News. She brings authority, expertise and warmth to the new channel, and completes a compelling on-air team.”

BBC News, which reaches 50 million consumers weekly in the U.S., is regarded as the most trusted global news brand in the country, ahead of all major US news brands, according to the 2022 Reuters Institute Digital News Report. The ranking is a testament to BBC News’ commitment to its mission of helping people understand the world around them, make informed choices and take an active part in society and democracy.