Matt Frei, the BBC's Washington correspondent, will move to Channel 4 in the coming months (Image: BBC)

The BBC's long-time Washington correspondent Matt Frei has penned a deal to join Channel 4, the broadcaster announced on Thursday.

Frei, who is due to begin at his new employer within the next few months, will become Channel 4's Washington correspondent and a member of the network's news presenting team.

Channel 4 said that his new role would involve presenting and reporting for a range of news programmes, including the flagship documentary series Dispatches.

"I've always respected the journalism at Channel 4 News - and it's an honour to join such a distinguished team. I'm looking forward to the editorial creativity and the opportunities across the channel that come with working for a broadcaster with a remit for challenging, fearless news," Frei said in a statement.

Channel 4's chief creative officer Jay Hunt - the controller of BBC One until September last year - described Frei as an "exceptional correspondent and writer".

In poaching Frei, Channel 4 has managed to secure one of the BBC's best-known names. As one of the broadcaster's America-based reporters since 2002, the German-born journalist has presented BBC World News America and the radio programme Americana, which airs on Radio 4 and the World Service.

He has been with the BBC since 1986, shortly after graduating from university.

Channel 4 also announced on Thursday that Cathy Newman, the chief political correspondent, would become a regular presenter of Channel 4 News alongside Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. Jackie Long, a reporter for the BBC's hard news programme Newsnight, has been lured across to become the new social affairs editor.

"We're thrilled to welcome these new journalist heavyweights - the perfect mix of home grown talent and established names," said Jim Gray, the editor of Channel 4 News.

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