- Kamal Ahmed joins as Executive Editorial Director for UK and Europe to boost visibility.
- Francesca Cassidy is appointed Editor – Features and Fortune 500 C-Suite to focus on insight-driven content.
- Strategic move aims to deepen connections with Europe’s senior business leaders through journalism and events.
Fortune has made a series of senior editorial appointments to strengthen its influence among European business leaders. Kamal Ahmed becomes Executive Editorial Director for the UK and Europe, while Francesca Cassidy takes on the role of Editor – Features and Fortune 500 C-Suite.
The hires form part of Fortune’s strategy to grow its visibility and reach in Europe, with a focus on connecting C-suite audiences through live journalism, storytelling and high-level events. Ahmed will lead this effort, while Cassidy will develop content addressing the challenges and innovations facing Europe’s leading Fortune 500 companies.
They join Tara Teymoori, appointed earlier this year as Community Director, responsible for activating and engaging the Fortune 500 Europe network through events and communications.
Ahmed is one of Britain’s best-known journalists, with senior editorial roles at the BBC, The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Observer. As Editorial Director of BBC News between 2018 and 2021, he oversaw editorial strategy and digital commissioning. He later co-founded The News Movement, a social-first media start-up aimed at younger audiences, and has served as president of the Society of Editors.
Cassidy joins from Raconteur, where she spent seven years shaping editorial strategy for senior business audiences. Her work focused on data-driven journalism and developing new content formats in partnership with commercial teams.
Jim Jacovides, Managing Director of Fortune Europe, said the appointments represented “an important step in expanding Fortune’s footprint across the continent”, adding that the company’s mission is to “connect the global C-suite through great journalism, convenings and community”.
Fortune’s renewed focus on Europe reflects a broader shift among global media brands toward localisation, curated content and membership-driven communities. By combining high-quality journalism with exclusive networking opportunities, Fortune aims to deepen its role as a convenor of influential business conversations across the continent.
Both Ahmed and Cassidy said they were eager to build Fortune’s European presence. “This is a tremendous opportunity to expand the Fortune 500 community across Europe,” said Ahmed. Cassidy said she was committed to producing “insight-led journalism” that speaks directly to the issues facing business leaders.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fortune-media-expands-european-team-with-kamal-ahmed-as-executive-editorial-director-uk-and-europe-and-francesca-cassidy-as-editor–features-and-fortune-500-c-suite-302612132.html – Original press release. View link for all data
- https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fortune-media-expands-european-team-with-kamal-ahmed-as-executive-editorial-director-uk-and-europe-and-francesca-cassidy-as-editor–features-and-fortune-500-c-suite-302612157.html – Fortune Media Group (UK) Limited has announced the appointment of Kamal Ahmed as Executive Editorial Director for the UK and Europe, and Francesca Cassidy as Editor – Features and Fortune 500 C-Suite. These appointments aim to strengthen Fortune’s presence across Europe and enhance engagement with senior business leaders of Fortune 500 Europe™ companies. Kamal Ahmed, a respected journalist and broadcaster, will amplify Fortune’s voice in Europe through live journalism and curated events connecting C-suite leaders. Francesca Cassidy will develop editorial content focusing on the challenges, innovation, and impact of Fortune 500® companies. Both join Tara Teymoori, the new Community Director responsible for building and engaging the Fortune 500 Europe community.
- https://rts.org.uk/person/kamal-ahmed-1 – Kamal Ahmed is a columnist and senior interviewer for The Telegraph and co-founder of The News Movement, a media company focused on social media channels and digital consumption. Between 2018 and 2021, he served as Editorial Director of BBC News, overseeing news strategy, daily news planning, commissioning, analysis, and new forms of digital content. Prior to that, he was Economics Editor at BBC News from 2016 to 2018 and Business Editor from 2014 to 2016. He joined the BBC in April 2014 from The Telegraph Media Group, where he was Executive Business Editor responsible for The Sunday Telegraph’s business and economics coverage. Kamal has also held positions as Group Director of Communications at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Executive Editor, News, at The Observer. He graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Political Studies.
- https://www.weforum.org/people/kamal-ahmed/ – Kamal Ahmed is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The News Movement, a new media business focused on social media channels, new audiences, and digital consumption. Between 2018 and 2021, he was Editorial Director of BBC News, working across news strategy, daily news planning, commissioning, analysis, visual and audio journalism, and new forms of digital content. He was a member of the Newsgroup Board and the Sounds board. Between 2016 and 2018, Kamal was Economics Editor at BBC News, leading economics coverage for the corporation. He joined the BBC in April 2014 as Business Editor from the Telegraph Media Group, where he was Executive Business Editor responsible for The Sunday Telegraph’s business and economics coverage. Between 2007 and 2009, Kamal was Group Director, Communications, at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and before that was Executive Editor, News, at The Observer. Between 2000 and 2004, he was Political Editor of The Observer, covering Tony Blair’s premiership. He has also worked at The Guardian and Scotland on Sunday. A Leeds University graduate in Political Studies, Kamal’s first book, The Life and Times of a Very British Man, was published by Bloomsbury in 2018.
- https://www.tvnewsroom.co.uk/news/kamal-ahmed-named-editorial-director-at-bbc-news/ – Kamal Ahmed has been appointed Editorial Director at BBC News, responsible for shaping the BBC’s future editorial strategy, focusing on storytelling and explanatory journalism, and providing the link between audience research and BBC output. He joined the BBC in 2014 as Business Editor, moving to the role of Economics Editor two years later. In his new role, Kamal will oversee news strategy, daily news planning, commissioning, analysis, visual and audio journalism, and new forms of digital content. He will also be a member of the Newsgroup Board and the Sounds board.
- https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/kamal-ahmed-elected-president-of-the-society-of-editors-21468 – Kamal Ahmed, the former Editorial Director and Economics Editor of BBC News, has been unanimously elected as the President of the Society of Editors. He takes over from Martin Breen, Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Northern Ireland’s Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life. In his acceptance speech, Ahmed emphasized the Society’s vital role in upholding the value of great journalism, freedom of expression, promoting diversity, and supporting the media industry in the UK. He also highlighted his awareness of often being the ‘first person of colour’ to have been afforded senior roles in the industry throughout his career.
- https://www.societyofeditors.org/events/2022-media-conference/speakers/ – Kamal Ahmed is the Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of The News Movement, a new media business focused on social media channels, new audiences, and digital consumption. Between 2018 and 2021, he was Editorial Director of BBC News, working across news strategy, daily news planning, commissioning, analysis, visual and audio journalism, and new forms of digital content. He was a member of the Newsgroup Board and the Sounds board. Between 2016 and 2018, Kamal was Economics Editor at BBC News, leading economics coverage for the corporation. He joined the BBC in April 2014 as Business Editor from the Telegraph Media Group, where he was Executive Business Editor responsible for The Sunday Telegraph’s business and economics coverage. Between 2007 and 2009, Kamal was Group Director, Communications, at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and before that was Executive Editor, News, at The Observer. Between 2000 and 2004, he was Political Editor of The Observer, covering Tony Blair’s premiership. He has also worked at The Guardian and Scotland on Sunday.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being today, November 12, 2025. The report originates from PR Newswire, a reputable press release distribution service, indicating a high freshness score. No earlier versions with differing figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The inclusion of updated data alongside new appointments justifies a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from Jim Jacovides, Managing Director of Fortune Europe, and statements from Kamal Ahmed and Francesca Cassidy. These quotes appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. No variations in wording were noted, suggesting the quotes are consistent and likely original.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from PR Newswire, a reputable press release distribution service. The report is also covered by Investors Hangout, a platform that aggregates press releases. The content is consistent across these sources, indicating reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The appointments of Kamal Ahmed and Francesca Cassidy are plausible and align with their professional backgrounds. Kamal Ahmed has a history of senior editorial roles, including Editorial Director of BBC News and co-founder of The News Movement. Francesca Cassidy has experience in business and leadership journalism, having spent seven years at Raconteur. The narrative lacks excessive or off-topic detail and maintains a tone consistent with corporate communications.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes are original and consistent. The sources are reliable, and the claims are plausible, supported by the professional backgrounds of the individuals mentioned. No significant credibility risks were identified.
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