He joined CNN in 1992, serving as a correspondent for Lou Dobbs Moneyline in New York City. He hosted World Business Today from 1994 to 1996 in London. He also served as anchor of Ahead of the Curve and Business Unusual and was principal anchor for CNNfn in New York. Since October 2007, Defterios has been hosting "Marketplace Middle East" on CNN International. In November 2011, he began presenting "Global Exchange", focusing on emerging markets, from Abu Dhabi. He is also currently CNN's Emerging Markets Editor.