MUMBAI: BBC News presenter and reporter Jon Sopel has been appointed as one of the lead anchors of BBC World News.

Sopel will present an afternoon show that will launch early next year from the channel’s new home at New Broadcasting House in central London.

Sopel will continue to present on the BBC News Channel and BBC One, in addition to his BBC World News role, as well as being deployed on domestic and international live coverage reporting across BBC TV channels and on the web.

Global News controller of English Richard Porter said, “We’re delighted that such a well-respected presenter as Jon is joining the BBC World News team. He has a wealth of experience, from his international reporting from Paris and the US, and as a presenter on The Politics Show, the BBC News Channel and BBC News at One. I’m sure he will be a great addition to the team.”

Sopel added, “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the channel to create a new show at a time when BBC World News is going from strength to strength, both in terms of investment and ambition. I just can’t wait to get started.”

Sopel is currently in the US covering this year’s presidential campaign.

He brings international and UK experience to his new role. He is currently one of the lead anchors at the BBC News channel in the UK, where in the past few years he has anchored coverage from the Middle East during the Israel Lebanon war; Sri Lanka after the tsunami; New Orleans after Katrina; Beijing for the Olympics, and South Africa for the World Cup.

Sopel also served as the Paris correspondent for BBC News.