Frank Kane

Background

About Frank Kane

With nearly 30 years as a senior business journalist, columnist and editor, I have worked for some of the best-known media titles in the world – The Financial Times, The Independent, the Telegraph, the Guardian, Sunday Times, Sunday Business and The Observer – and in the Middle East Arab News of Saudi Arabia and The National of UAE. I’ve covered the full spectrum of business, financial and economic stories in the region, most recently with a focus on Saudi Arabia and it’s energy sector, with a particular emphasis on the profound economic changes under way in the Kingdom. The energy industry is crucial to these and is a major focus of my work. I also act as a consultant to the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia in communications strategy & international business development, which has been a challenging but fascinating role in the rapidly changing global energy market. In addition, last year I took up a role as senior adviser in strategic communications to FTI Consulting, one of the biggest consulting firms in the world headquartered in New York City, USA. It is my first foray into private sector consulting, and I am enjoying it immensely, despite the steep learning curve. I am a regular delegate at World Economic Forum events in Davos, the United Nations Climate Change Conference(COP), G20 summits etc, as well as a speaker and moderator at high-level events, including the FII forum in Riyadh, which I have attended since its inception in 2017. I’ve interviewed key ministers and executives, as well as figures such as former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, Stephen Schwarzman, the co-founder and CEO of investment group Blackstone, & the Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih, among many others. My last regular journalistic role was with Arab News as senior correspondent and columnist and where I launched the popular series of video interviews, called ‘Frankly Speaking’, which quickly attracted a significant and influential audience. I believe passionately that the Arabian Gulf countries have a compelling story to tell – of transformation, economic modernization and social advancement – and see my role as playing a part in persuading a sometimes skeptical world of the validity of that narrative. In 2016, I received the Citibank Journalistic Excellence Award for “excellence in financial and business reporting” – only the second time it had been awarded in the Middle East.” When not at work in Dubai or Riyadh, I can be found cycling, watching football (Tottenham Hotspur), reading or dining out with family and friends.