Head of politics and business at Sky News returns to programme where she started TV career

The BBC has appointed Esme Wren, the head of politics and business at Sky News, as the new editor of Newsnight.

Wren, who will take up the role in the spring, is no stranger to the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme having started her TV career there in the 1990s.

“Newsnight is in Esme’s DNA,” said Fran Unsworth, the director of BBC news and current affairs. “It’s where she began her broadcasting career and we’re delighted to welcome her back to the BBC as its editor. She brings with her a wealth of TV and political expertise, and she’s worked with some of the finest names in the business. We are all looking forward to having Esme at the helm of one of our most important programmes.”

Unsworth is also new to her role, having been promoted from running the BBC World Service group in December, following the departure of James Harding to set up his own media venture.

Wren, who has worked at Sky News since 2005, said she was delighted to be returning.

“It is a great honour and privilege to be returning to Newsnight,” she said. “There couldn’t be a more exciting time to edit the programme that leads the way in cutting through the constant noise of political, social and global change. The last 12 years at Sky News could not have been better. I’ve been given the opportunities to grow and develop that have prepared me to now take on one of the best jobs in British journalism.”

Wren will take over from Ian Katz, a former deputy editor of the Guardian who joined the BBC in 2013. He was paid £151,600 a year while editor of Newsnight. Katz left in November 2017 to become Channel 4’s new director of programmes.

Asked whether Wren will receive the same salary, the BBC would not comment but told the Guardian: “Those on £150k-plus get made public on their site.”