Katie Allen joins CNBC as commercial director for Middle East

CNBC has appointed Katie Allen as Commercial Director for the Middle East, reinforcing the network’s growing commitment to expanding its operations across the UAE and the wider Middle East.

WEBDESK – MEDIABITES

Announcing her new role on LinkedIn, Allen said she was delighted to join CNBC at a pivotal moment as the global business and financial news giant strengthens its presence in Abu Dhabi.

“The Middle East continues to be one of the world’s most vibrant business hubs, and I am thrilled to be part of CNBC’s next chapter in the region,” she stated.

Allen brings more than two decades of international media sales, advertising, and commercial leadership experience across Europe and the Middle East.

Before joining CNBC in July 2026, she served as Head of Advertising and Revenue at Khaleej Times in Dubai from January 2025 to May 2026.

READ MORE: Former CNN producer Ashley Van Sant returns to CNN as livestream specialist

Prior to that, Allen spent over eight years at Dow Jones, where she held senior commercial leadership roles, including Head of Continental Europe and Regional Director. During her tenure, she managed multimedia sales operations across major global brands, including The Wall Street Journal, WSJ Magazine, Barron’s, Financial News, and MarketWatch across multiple European markets.

Earlier in her career, Allen worked at Intermedia for more than a decade in various sales and management roles, overseeing advertising revenues, client partnerships, integrated campaigns, and media solutions across television, print, digital, events, and mobile platforms throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Academically, Allen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern and Medieval Languages (French & German) from the University of Oxford, where she studied from 2000 to 2004.

Her appointment reflects CNBC’s strategic focus on strengthening partnerships, advertising operations, and audience engagement in one of the world’s fastest-growing business regions.

Team MediaBites congratulates Katie Allen on her new role and wishes her continued success in her professional journey with CNBC in the Middle East.