Kiley will report to editor-in-chief Geordie Greig and have a wide brief as a foreign affairs reporter, writer and commentator.
Kiley has over three decades of experience reporting on stories from the Somali famine to the Rwandan genocide, as well as wars in the Balkans, across Africa, Palestine, Ukraine, Iraq and Afghanistan. His appointment reflects The Independent’s dedication to serious, rigorous journalism, which has seen the title become a truly global publication.
A multiple-award winning journalist, Kiley spent six years as senior international correspondent in Abu Dhabi for CNN, leaving in December 2023. Prior to this he spent seven years at Sky News, reporting on conflict and security from London and the Middle East.
Independent editor-in-chief Greig said: “I’m delighted that Sam is joining our team to reinforce our commitment to covering foreign affairs with brilliant dispatches and analysis. He will be a superb addition.
“The Independent has a long, distinguished history of award-winning foreign journalism and I’m proud to be able to continue that by appointing Sam.”
Newly-appointed world affairs editor Kiley said: “I’m thrilled to be joining The Independent. I’ve admired its stylish and entertaining approach to journalism since it was first published. The Independent is growing fast and adapting quickly. I’m fizzing with enthusiasm to be joining an organisation that is defining the future of the media industry.
“Geordie’s vision for a news organisation that makes the best use of the written word, of audio, and of video for story telling is spot on. I still love the founding slogan, and challenge, of the paper ’The Independent. It is. Are you?’”
