long standing business presenter Ian King has quit his flagship show and will leave the company after ten years.
Filming for Business Live with Ian King had recently been moved from it’s centrally based Square Mile address and relocated to Sky’s West -based Osterley headquarters. Following the move Smith has been absent from his show.
The news of his departure was confirmed by David Rhodes, Sky News Group Executive Chairman who revealed Smith will remain with the channel until Spring of next year and Business Live will continue to air live on weekdays.
“Ian has been with Sky for ten years, enriching our news report with his knowledge of finance and his network in the City of London. We’re delighted that he will continue to be a resource on our digital estate at this time. I met this morning with the Business team to discuss our continued commitment to ‘Business Live’, hosted in recent months principally by Paul Kelso and Darren McCaffrey from our main newsroom.
“We’re increasing our investment in this area, for instance in the hit Money Blog – a consistent audience favourite. I want to thank Ian for his commitment to Sky News; we’ll make sure to organise a deserved send-off next year,” he wrote.
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Ian King has left his role in Sky News after 10 years (Image: Sky)
Smith hasn’t appeared on screen since his show was moved in September this year.
However, according to Rhodes he will keep contributing analysis and reporting to Sky’s digital platforms until his departure next year.
Sky’s Osterley HQ opened in August 2016 and is home to studios for Sky Sports, Sky Sports News and Sky News.
Prior to the move Sky News’ business operations were based in The News Building, known as The Place or The Baby Shard, near London Bridge.
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Ian King’s flaghsip show Business Live recently moved studios away from Central London (Image: Sky News)
The relocation was criticised as as many worried about the distance from central London.
Neil Bennett, co-ceo of H/Advisors, told City AM before the move: “Ian King’s business show is a precious resource for the City and British business because he attracts all the biggest names into his central studio.
“They’re simply not going to travel to Osterley, so the business community will lose another important media voice.”
Another City communication advisor agreed saying: “One of the reasons Ian’s output is taken so seriously in the City is because he knows his patch so well. Moving the show out of the Square Mile would undermine that credibility.”