Becky Anderson

Current occupation: Host of CNN’s “Connect the World,” managing editor of CNN’s Abu Dhabi bureau

Former employers: ITN, Bloomberg, CNBC Europe

Education: University of Sussex, Arizona State University

Nationality: British

Becky Anderson has become a mainstay on television screens throughout the Middle East since her move to Abu Dhabi where she hosts “Connect the World with Becky Anderson” and serves as the bureau’s managing editor.

Anderson covers the most important stories of the day and hosts high-profile guests from a range of backgrounds that have included Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, and TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

She has compared her approach to interviews with hosting dinner guests — starting off serious before moving to lighter topics and forming trusted conversation that makes the guest feel comfortable speaking. She is well known for not pulling her punches when interviewing world leaders or top executives on sensitive or controversial subject matters.

Starting off her career at the UK’s ITN after graduating from the University of Sussex and later from Arizona State University, she progressed through news stations such as Bloomberg and CNBC Europe before joining CNN. Since moving to the Middle East, Anderson said her drive to make a difference intensified due to “so many extraordinary stories here, and it is so important they are told.”