Biographies

Head, BBC Arabic service

Hosam El Sokkari is Head of BBC Arabic, the oldest and largest of the BBC World Service's language operations.

He was appointed in April 2004 to lead BBC Arabic on TV, radio and online and took responsibility for the editorial quality and managerial policies of BBC Arabic operations.

Hosam's remit also includes leading BBC Arabic journalists in the UK and in key locations in the region and across the world, including Gaza, Jerusalem, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunis, UAE and Yemen.

Hosam joined BBC Arabic in 1994 with the launch of the first BBC Arabic TV and after its closure worked as a member of the launch team of Al Jazeera.

Hosam was appointed Head of bbcarabic.com in 1999 and led the launch of the popular, award-winning website.

He introduced interactive radio programming in 2003 which caught the imagination of many in the Arab world. The impact of these programmes was especially important during the Iraq War, generating vibrant debate on radio and online and involving audiences in the heart of its output.

Hosam has led the operation into the bi-media, radio and online world and experimented with TV partners on tri-media programmes.

He has also worked as a presenter for both the BBC Arabic and Al Jazeera TV channels.

Hosam started his journalistic career in Finland and Germany as a cartoonist and editor before joining Deutsche Welle as a correspondent in Berlin in 1988.

Before joining the BBC Hosam worked as a columnist and science and technology editor for a number of pan-Arab publications.

He also introduced internet journalism to the Arab World print media with his writings in Al Ahram and Asaharq Al Awsat Magazine, and later to Arab broadcasting with his popular programme The Electronic Café Tales.

Hosam was educated in Cairo, Berlin and London. He has an MSc from the London School of Economics in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems and a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences.