MUMBAI: BBC News has appointed Damian Grammaticas to the post of South Asia correspondent, based in the BBC’s hub bureau in Delhi. A well-known journalist with over a decade’s experience reporting for the BBC from various parts of the world, Grammaticas will be reporting on news stories from South Asia across BBC World television, BBC World Service radio and the BBC News website, according to an official statement.

BBC south Asia bureau editor Paul Danahar says: “At a time when India, and indeed South Asia, is holding focus on the global stage, the BBC is committed to its role, as the world’s leading broadcaster, to report on the developments in the region to the rest of the world. Damian is an experienced journalist. His sensitivity and understanding of local perspectives has always reflected in his reportage. I am very pleased that he is joining the South Asia bureau. His insightful reporting will add to the BBC’s newsgathering strengths in this region.”

Damian Grammaticas adds: “This is an exciting time to be reporting on South Asia. Some of the most important stories of our day are concentrated here – be it India’s rise as a future global giant, or the struggle to control international terrorism, or the enormous changes brought by the region’s economic development. Reflecting the intricacies of these events, and the millions of individual, human stories they entail, is my challenge. It’s my privilege to be a witness to such important times.”

In his previous assignment as the BBC’s Moscow correspondent, he has reported extensively from the countries of the former Soviet Union. He fronted the BBC’s coverage of the important news events such as the ‘Orange’ revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, the conflict in Chechnya, the resurgence of Russia under president Putin, the lasting effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and the tragic Beslan school siege.

Prior to that, he was the BBC’s Hong Kong correspondent, when he covered stories from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia and the Philippines, including the Philippines revolution that overthrew president Joseph Estrada, the deposing of president Abdurrahman Wahid in Indonesia, the Bali bombings, and the brewing crisis over North Korea’s nuclear programme.

He was also involved in the BBC’s reportage of the war in Afghanistan, including the battle at Tora Bora in 2001, and the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He has also done short stints of reporting from Israel and Washington, informs the release.