CNBC hires British business editor

CNBC has hired Helia Ebrahimi as its UK business editor, based at its European headquarters in London.

She will make her on-air debut Friday morning on “Squawk Box,” the network’s flagship morning programme.

Ebrahimi will cover UK corporate and financial news, breaking news stories from the city and from leading companies across Britain. She will also cover M&A and economic news, reporting on the Bank of England, the Treasury and from Downing Street.

“Helia’s focus on British business and knowledge of City deal makers will help us deliver even more firsts and exclusives from this key European market,” said John Casey, senior vice president of news and programming for CNBC International, in a statement. “Helia has great track record of breaking big City stories and she will be a great addition to our team.”

Ebrahimi joins CNBC from The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph where she was senior City correspondent. She has reported on the City and the financial sector for several years and led the paper’s coverage of M&A, private equity, hedge funds, fund managers and professional services sectors.

During her time at the paper she broke News Corp.’s bid for BSkyB and LSE’s merger plans with TMX, reporting first on the AA’s sale,Qatar’s deal-busting stake in Xstrata, and interviewing Obama adviser and former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker. She also contributed to the “Rainmaker” column which focused on the major corporate deals and the individuals behind them.