CNN hires Erin Burnett from CNBC

CNN hires Erin Burnett of CNBC. By Tami Luhby, senior writerApril 29, 2011: 3:46 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — CNN said Friday that it has hired CNBC’s Erin Burnett to serve as an anchor and chief business and economics correspondent.

Burnett will anchor a weekday general news program, as well as contribute to CNN’s coverage of national and international breaking news, out of the cable network’s New York headquarters. She starts in June and the show will launch this summer.

“Erin is the kind of all-star player that knows how to connect-the-dots and translate events into relevant information for viewers,” CNN Worldwide President Jim Walton said in a statement.

At CNBC, Burnett anchored the weekday programs “Squawk on the Street” and “Street Signs.” She covered global business news, reporting from China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Middle East. She also anchored several documentaries, including “India Rising: The New Empire.”

In addition, Burnett was a contributor to NBC’s “Today” and “Meet the Press,” as well as MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

CNBC did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

“I cannot wait to launch our new show: Tackling serious issues and telling great stories,” said Burnett. “The experience I gained at CNBC and NBC News will be invaluable as I expand my focus. I began my journalism career at CNN, so this is like coming home for me.”

CNN is a unit of Time Warner (TWX, Fortune 500). 

First Published: April 29, 2011: 3:25 PM ET