Eleni Giokos: A trailblazer in news, connecting Africa and the Middle East

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

Eleni Giokos has built a journalism career that bridges Africa and the Middle East. Her reporting explores the business, political and economic forces shaping both regions. From South African newsrooms to CNN's global platform, her work has placed her at the centre of conversations that cross borders and markets. Eleni talked about her inspiration in a 2023 interview with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.

Whenever I’m out on a story, or on stage, or behind the anchor desk, I am always guided by the voices of the most vulnerable people who I’ve met through the years.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

- Eleni Giokos is a CNN anchor connecting African and Middle Eastern stories.

- Her journalism career began in South Africa before taking her to CNN.

- She covers business, politics and major events across both regions.

- Her Dubai base strengthens her role in linking Africa with the Middle East.

Eleni Giokos' profile summary

Full name | Eleni Giokos |

Nickname | Eleni Giokos |

Gender | Female |

Date of birth | 1981 |

Age | 45 years (as of 2026) |

Place of birth | Greece, Europe |

Current residence | Dubai |

Nationality | Greek |

Ethnicity | Greek |

Sexuality | Straight |

Height in feet | 5'3 |

Height in centimetres | 165 |

Weight in pounds | 121 |

Weight in kilograms | 55 |

Siblings | Heidi Giokos, Anthi Giokos |

Relationship status | Married |

Partner | George Chatzicharalampous (Chatzicharala) |

Children | Cleo |

University | University of Witwatersrand |

Profession | Journalist |

Who is Eleni Giokos?

Eleni Giokos is a CNN anchor and correspondent based in the United Arab Emirates. She presents Connecting Africa and Marketplace Middle East and regularly anchors CNN’s news and business programming. Born in Greece and raised in South Africa, she has built a career covering business, politics, economics and major global events.

What is Eleni Giokos' age?

Eleni is widely reported to have been born in 1981, which would make her 45 in 2026. However, CNN has not published her date of birth, and some online biographies give conflicting years. For accuracy, 1981 should therefore be treated as a reported birth year rather than an officially confirmed date.

Where did Eleni Giokos go to school?

Eleni Giokos studied at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She earned an Honours degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She was also selected as an International Monetary Fund Fellow in 2014. Her education laid the foundation for a career that would take her from South African newsrooms to international television.

Eleni Giokos' journey from South Africa to CNN's global newsroom

Eleni Giokos began her journalism career in South Africa. CNN says she started at CNBC Africa in 2005 before moving to eNCA, where she worked as an anchor and correspondent. Her early reporting covered both business and breaking news. She reported on the killing of Reeva Steenkamp by Oscar Pistorius and the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi.

She later worked with Bloomberg TV Africa. The move expanded her experience in financial and economic reporting. By then, she was already covering major international events, including the World Economic Forum in Davos and the United Nations General Assembly. She also chaired discussions for organisations such as the IMF, African Finance Corporation and Africa CEO Forum.

Her big international break came in 2015 when she joined CNN. The network initially appointed her to strengthen its Africa coverage. She brought experience in business reporting and a strong understanding of the continent. CNN's announcement highlighted her previous interviews with leaders such as Jacob Zuma, Goodluck Jonathan, Christine Lagarde and Richard Branson.

Her CNN career has since taken her far beyond South Africa. She has reported from Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana and Lesotho. She has also covered the growing links between Africa and Asia from South Korea and Kazakhstan. Her assignments have taken her to Washington, DC, as well as CNN's London, New York and Atlanta hubs.

In 2021, CNN expanded her role and moved her to the United Arab Emirates. She became an anchor and correspondent based in Dubai. The new position gave her additional responsibilities on Connect the World. She also continued presenting Connecting Africa and became central to Marketplace Middle East.

Her Dubai role has strengthened the Africa-Middle East focus that now defines much of her work. She reports on commerce, trade and political and economic trends across both regions. A 2025 profile by her alma mater, Wits University, described her as a face of CNN's Connecting Africa and Marketplace Middle East.

Giokos has also spoken about how demanding the work can be. In a 2023 interview with Harper's Bazaar Arabia, she described journalism as unpredictable and said.

Every day is like opening a lucky packet – I don’t know what stories I’ll cover and who I’ll meet. From smart, impactful leaders who are changing their industries, to people like the woman I met in Rwanda who was nursing her child under the hot sun in a field while she was harvesting chilis, to the families piecing their lives together after being ravaged by the devastating fires in Greece.

Her reporting is not limited to financial markets. She has covered wars, natural disasters, political developments and major economic stories. The talented journalist has also interviewed prominent figures such as IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Virgin founder Richard Branson and African business leaders Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu and Patrice Motsepe.

Her connection to South Africa remains important to her story. In a 2025 Wits profile, she recalled growing up in Emalahleni, formerly known as Witbank, where her parents ran a concession store at the coal mines. She also reflected on her Greek heritage and South African upbringing, saying.

I feel I’m a beautiful combination of both.

Her personal journey has also influenced her international career. When CNN offered her the opportunity to move to Dubai, she had to discuss the decision with her husband, George. She said he was supportive of the move and wanted her to succeed despite the demands of her work and frequent travel.

What is Eleni Giokos' nationality?

Eleni was born in Greece and raised in South Africa. CNN and other professional profiles consistently describe her this way. She has also spoken about her dual cultural background. In a Wits University interview, she said she eventually realised she was “more South African than Greek”, while still embracing her Greek heritage.

Eleni Giokos' family

Eleni Giokos was raised in Emalahleni, South Africa, in a Greek family. Her parents ran a concession store at the coal mines, according to her 2025 Wits profile. She has two siblings, Heidi Giokos and Anthi Giokos. Heidi is also a journalist and has worked as a business reporter and anchor at eNCA.

Giokos has spoken warmly about her childhood and her connection to Greek culture. She said her love of Greek cooking takes her back to her childhood in Witbank. She also recalled helping her mother prepare Greek dishes after her mother spent the week working at the family business.

What is Eleni Giokos' religion?

There is no reliable recent source that clearly states Eleni Giokos' religion. The TV anchor has Greek heritage and was married in a traditional Greek church in Athens, but this alone is not enough to confirm her personal religious affiliation.

Who is Eleni Giokos' husband?

Eleni Giokos is married to George Chatzicharalampous (Chatzicharala), a civil engineer. The couple met in Greece during her first visit there in 2008. According to Wits University, they met on a beach on the island of Lemnos and spent two weeks together before George later moved to South Africa. They married in 2015, the same year Giokos joined CNN.

Giokos has described her husband as supportive of her career. When she suggested moving the family to Dubai, she said George was immediately supportive. She also noted that he had previously moved from Greece to South Africa so they could build their life together.

Eleni Giokos' children

Eleni and George have one daughter, Cleo. She was born in 2017. Giokos has spoken about balancing motherhood with the demands of international journalism. Her Wits profile notes that she gave birth to Cleo two years after joining CNN. She told Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.

My feisty daughter has brought me so much joy, sleeplessness, and also much-needed perspective.

FAQs

- Where does Eleni Giokos live? Eleni lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. CNN moved her to the UAE in 2021 as part of an expanded anchor and correspondent role. She continues to travel frequently for CNN assignments across Africa and other parts of the world.

- Has Eleni Giokos lost weight? There is no verified information that the CNN correspondent has undergone or publicly discussed a weight-loss journey.

- Is Eleni Giokos on Instagram? Yes. She uses the Instagram account @elenigiokoscnn to share professional and personal updates.

- Are Eleni and Heidi Giokos related? Yes. Heidi Giokos is Eleni's sister and is also a journalist and broadcaster.

- What are Eleni Giokos' eyes like? Her eye colour is not reliably documented in authoritative sources, so it is best not to state a specific colour as fact.

Eleni Giokos' career shows how journalism can cross borders and bring distant stories closer together. Her work continues to follow the changing relationship between Africa and the Middle East. As both regions grow in global influence, her reporting places their people, economies and shared interests at the centre of the conversation.

Tuko.co.ke published a list of Newsmax female anchors, hosts, and reporters to watch. Newsmax female anchors are some of the most experienced voices in American cable news.

The network has built a strong lineup of women who cover politics, breaking news, and investigative journalism daily. These women bring expertise, credibility, and diversity to Newsmax every day.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Gladys Mokeira (Lifestyle writer) Gladys is a content creator who has worked with Tuko since 2018, where she won the Best Writer Award in 2022. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in Project Planning and Management. She previously held other positions, including an editing role at Kami.com.ph, Yen.com.gh, and Legit.ng. In 2023, Gladys finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: julianmireri@gmail.com

Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is a writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in digital publishing. She writes across lifestyle, entertainment, sports, education, and finance, with work featured on MSN News, Ihamba Adventures, Industry Biz, and Tuko.co.ke. She previously worked as a project manager and researcher at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi. She holds a BA in Urban and Regional Planning and is pursuing an MA in Environmental Law. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boit@gmail.com.

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.