diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b37163b..539d70c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,9 +57,14 @@ This toold comes with some inputs that allow users to override the default behav
 | Pull Request  | -pr, --pull-request  | Y            | Original pull request url, the one that must be backported, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting/pull/1                                        |             |
 | Auth          | -a, --auth           | N            | `GITHUB_TOKEN` or a `repo` scoped [Personal Access Token](https://docs.github.com/en/github/authenticating-to-github/creating-a-personal-access-token) | ""          |
 | Folder        | -f, --folder         | N            | Local folder where the repo will be checked out, e.g., /tmp/folder                                                                                     | {cwd}/bp    |
+| Git User       | -gu, --git-user        | N            | Local git user name                                                       | "GitHub"       |
+| Git Email       | -ge, --git-email        | N            | Local git user email                                                       | "noreply@github.com"       |
 | Title       | --title        | N            | Backporting pull request title                                                       | "{original-pr-title}"       |
 | Body       | --body        | N            | Backporting pull request body                                                           | "{original-pr-body}"       |
 | Body Prefix       | --body-prefix        | N            | Prefix to the backporting pull request body                                                          | "Backport: {original-pr-link}"       |
+| Reviewers       | --reviewers        | N            | Backporting pull request comma-separated reviewers list                                                           | []       |
+| Assignees       | --assignes        | N            | Backporting pull request comma-separated assignees list                                                           | []       |
+| No Reviewers Inheritance       | --no-inherit-reviewers        | N            | Considered only if reviewers is empty, if true keep reviewers as empty list, otherwise inherit from original pull request                                                           | false       |
 | Backport Branch Name       | --bp-branch-name        | N            | Name of the backporting pull request branch                                                           | bp-{target-branch}-{sha}       |
 | Dry Run       | -d, --dry-run        | N            | If enabled the tool does not push nor create anything remotely, use this to skip PR creation                                                           | false       |
 
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index e734ec4..aa6327e 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ inputs:
     description: "GITHUB_TOKEN or a `repo` scoped Personal Access Token (PAT)."
     default: ${{ github.token }}
     required: false
+  git-user:
+    description: "Local git user name."
+    default: "GitHub"
+    required: false
+  git-email:
+    description: "Local git user email."
+    default: "noreply@github.com"
+    required: false
   pull-request:
     description: "URL of the pull request to backport, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting/pull/1."
     required: true
@@ -27,6 +35,16 @@ inputs:
   bp-branch-name:
     description: "Backporting PR branch name. Default is auto-generated from commit."
     required: false
+  reviewers:
+    description: "Comma separated list of reviewers for the backporting pull request."
+    required: false
+  assignees:
+    description: "Comma separated list of reviewers for the backporting pull request."
+    required: false
+  inherith-reviewers:
+    description: "If enabled and reviewers option is empty then inherit them from original pull request."
+    required: false
+    default: "true"
 
 runs:
   using: node16
diff --git a/dist/cli/index.js b/dist/cli/index.js
index 297fcf9..a0bfc53 100755
--- a/dist/cli/index.js
+++ b/dist/cli/index.js
@@ -30,20 +30,30 @@ runner.run();
 Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", ({ value: true }));
 const commander_1 = __nccwpck_require__(4379);
 const package_json_1 = __nccwpck_require__(6625);
+function commaSeparatedList(value, _prev) {
+    // remove all whitespaces
+    const cleanedValue = value.trim();
+    return cleanedValue !== "" ? cleanedValue.replace(/\s/g, "").split(",") : [];
+}
 class CLIArgsParser {
     getCommand() {
         return new commander_1.Command(package_json_1.name)
             .version(package_json_1.version)
             .description(package_json_1.description)
             .requiredOption("-tb, --target-branch <branch>", "branch where changes must be backported to.")
-            .requiredOption("-pr, --pull-request <pr url>", "pull request url, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting/pull/1.")
+            .requiredOption("-pr, --pull-request <pr-url>", "pull request url, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting/pull/1.")
             .option("-d, --dry-run", "if enabled the tool does not create any pull request nor push anything remotely", false)
             .option("-a, --auth <auth>", "git service authentication string, e.g., github token.", "")
+            .option("-gu, --git-user <git-user>", "local git user name, default is 'GitHub'.", "GitHub")
+            .option("-ge, --git-email <git-email>", "local git user email, default is 'noreply@github.com'.", "noreply@github.com")
             .option("-f, --folder <folder>", "local folder where the repo will be checked out, e.g., /tmp/folder.", undefined)
-            .option("--title <folder>", "backport pr title, default original pr title prefixed by target branch.", undefined)
-            .option("--body <folder>", "backport pr title, default original pr body prefixed by bodyPrefix.", undefined)
-            .option("--body-prefix <folder>", "backport pr body prefix, default `backport <original-pr-link>`.", undefined)
-            .option("--bp-branch-name <folder>", "backport pr branch name, default auto-generated by the commit.", undefined);
+            .option("--title <bp-title>", "backport pr title, default original pr title prefixed by target branch.", undefined)
+            .option("--body <bp-body>", "backport pr title, default original pr body prefixed by bodyPrefix.", undefined)
+            .option("--body-prefix <bp-body-prefix>", "backport pr body prefix, default `backport <original-pr-link>`.", undefined)
+            .option("--bp-branch-name <bp-branch-name>", "backport pr branch name, default auto-generated by the commit.", undefined)
+            .option("--reviewers <reviewers>", "comma separated list of reviewers for the backporting pull request.", commaSeparatedList, [])
+            .option("--assignees <assignees>", "comma separated list of assignees for the backporting pull request.", commaSeparatedList, [])
+            .option("--no-inherit-reviewers", "if provided and reviewers option is empty then inherit them from original pull request", true);
     }
     parse() {
         const opts = this.getCommand()
@@ -55,10 +65,15 @@ class CLIArgsParser {
             pullRequest: opts.pullRequest,
             targetBranch: opts.targetBranch,
             folder: opts.folder,
+            gitUser: opts.gitUser,
+            gitEmail: opts.gitEmail,
             title: opts.title,
             body: opts.body,
             bodyPrefix: opts.bodyPrefix,
             bpBranchName: opts.bpBranchName,
+            reviewers: opts.reviewers,
+            assignees: opts.assignees,
+            inheritReviewers: opts.inheritReviewers,
         };
     }
 }
@@ -126,11 +141,14 @@ class PullRequestConfigsParser extends configs_parser_1.default {
         return {
             dryRun: args.dryRun,
             auth: args.auth,
-            author: args.author ?? pr.author,
             folder: `${folder.startsWith("/") ? "" : process.cwd() + "/"}${args.folder ?? this.getDefaultFolder()}`,
             targetBranch: args.targetBranch,
             originalPullRequest: pr,
-            backportPullRequest: this.getDefaultBackportPullRequest(pr, args)
+            backportPullRequest: this.getDefaultBackportPullRequest(pr, args),
+            git: {
+                user: args.gitUser,
+                email: args.gitEmail,
+            }
         };
     }
     getDefaultFolder() {
@@ -144,18 +162,22 @@ class PullRequestConfigsParser extends configs_parser_1.default {
      * @returns {GitPullRequest}
      */
     getDefaultBackportPullRequest(originalPullRequest, args) {
-        const reviewers = [];
-        reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.author);
-        if (originalPullRequest.mergedBy) {
-            reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.mergedBy);
+        const reviewers = args.reviewers ?? [];
+        if (reviewers.length == 0 && args.inheritReviewers) {
+            // inherit only if args.reviewers is empty and args.inheritReviewers set to true
+            reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.author);
+            if (originalPullRequest.mergedBy) {
+                reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.mergedBy);
+            }
         }
         const bodyPrefix = args.bodyPrefix ?? `**Backport:** ${originalPullRequest.htmlUrl}\r\n\r\n`;
         const body = args.body ?? `${originalPullRequest.body}\r\n\r\nPowered by [BPer](https://github.com/lampajr/backporting).`;
         return {
-            author: originalPullRequest.author,
+            author: args.gitUser,
             title: args.title ?? `[${args.targetBranch}] ${originalPullRequest.title}`,
             body: `${bodyPrefix}${body}`,
             reviewers: [...new Set(reviewers)],
+            assignees: [...new Set(args.assignees)],
             targetRepo: originalPullRequest.targetRepo,
             sourceRepo: originalPullRequest.targetRepo,
             branchName: args.bpBranchName,
@@ -185,10 +207,10 @@ const fs_1 = __importDefault(__nccwpck_require__(7147));
  * Command line git commands executor service
  */
 class GitCLIService {
-    constructor(auth, author) {
+    constructor(auth, gitData) {
         this.logger = logger_service_factory_1.default.getLogger();
         this.auth = auth;
-        this.author = author;
+        this.gitData = gitData;
     }
     /**
      * Return a pre-configured SimpleGit instance able to execute commands from current
@@ -198,15 +220,15 @@ class GitCLIService {
      */
     git(cwd) {
         const gitConfig = { ...(cwd ? { baseDir: cwd } : {}) };
-        return (0, simple_git_1.default)(gitConfig).addConfig("user.name", this.author).addConfig("user.email", "noreply@github.com");
+        return (0, simple_git_1.default)(gitConfig).addConfig("user.name", this.gitData.user).addConfig("user.email", this.gitData.email);
     }
     /**
      * Update the provided remote URL by adding the auth token if not empty
      * @param remoteURL remote link, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting-example.git
      */
     remoteWithAuth(remoteURL) {
-        if (this.auth && this.author) {
-            return remoteURL.replace("://", `://${this.author}:${this.auth}@`);
+        if (this.auth && this.gitData.user) {
+            return remoteURL.replace("://", `://${this.gitData.user}:${this.auth}@`);
         }
         // return remote as it is
         return remoteURL;
@@ -375,6 +397,7 @@ class GitHubMapper {
             merged: pr.merged ?? false,
             mergedBy: pr.merged_by?.login,
             reviewers: pr.requested_reviewers.filter(r => "login" in r).map((r => r?.login)),
+            assignees: pr.assignees.filter(r => "login" in r).map(r => r.login),
             sourceRepo: {
                 owner: pr.head.repo.full_name.split("/")[0],
                 project: pr.head.repo.full_name.split("/")[1],
@@ -446,13 +469,26 @@ class GitHubService {
                     owner: backport.owner,
                     repo: backport.repo,
                     pull_number: data.number,
-                    reviewers: backport.reviewers
+                    reviewers: backport.reviewers,
                 });
             }
             catch (error) {
                 this.logger.error(`Error requesting reviewers: ${error}`);
             }
         }
+        if (backport.assignees.length > 0) {
+            try {
+                await this.octokit.issues.addAssignees({
+                    owner: backport.owner,
+                    repo: backport.repo,
+                    issue_number: data.number,
+                    assignees: backport.assignees,
+                });
+            }
+            catch (error) {
+                this.logger.error(`Error setting assignees: ${error}`);
+            }
+        }
     }
     // UTILS
     /**
@@ -657,7 +693,7 @@ class Runner {
         const originalPR = configs.originalPullRequest;
         const backportPR = configs.backportPullRequest;
         // start local git operations
-        const git = new git_cli_1.default(configs.auth, configs.author);
+        const git = new git_cli_1.default(configs.auth, configs.git);
         // 4. clone the repository
         await git.clone(configs.originalPullRequest.targetRepo.cloneUrl, configs.folder, configs.targetBranch);
         // 5. create new branch from target one and checkout
@@ -679,7 +715,8 @@ class Runner {
             base: configs.targetBranch,
             title: backportPR.title,
             body: backportPR.body,
-            reviewers: backportPR.reviewers
+            reviewers: backportPR.reviewers,
+            assignees: backportPR.assignees,
         };
         if (!configs.dryRun) {
             // 8. push the new branch to origin
diff --git a/dist/gha/index.js b/dist/gha/index.js
index 40750e2..e200d08 100755
--- a/dist/gha/index.js
+++ b/dist/gha/index.js
@@ -35,21 +35,39 @@ class GHAArgsParser {
      * @param key input key
      * @returns the value or undefined
      */
-    _getOrUndefined(key) {
+    getOrUndefined(key) {
         const value = (0, core_1.getInput)(key);
         return value !== "" ? value : undefined;
     }
+    getOrDefault(key, defaultValue) {
+        const value = (0, core_1.getInput)(key);
+        return value !== "" ? value : defaultValue;
+    }
+    getAsCommaSeparatedList(key) {
+        // trim the value
+        const value = ((0, core_1.getInput)(key) ?? "").trim();
+        return value !== "" ? value.replace(/\s/g, "").split(",") : [];
+    }
+    getAsBooleanOrDefault(key, defaultValue) {
+        const value = (0, core_1.getInput)(key).trim();
+        return value !== "" ? value.toLowerCase() === "true" : defaultValue;
+    }
     parse() {
         return {
-            dryRun: (0, core_1.getInput)("dry-run") === "true",
-            auth: (0, core_1.getInput)("auth") ? (0, core_1.getInput)("auth") : "",
+            dryRun: this.getAsBooleanOrDefault("dry-run", false),
+            auth: (0, core_1.getInput)("auth"),
             pullRequest: (0, core_1.getInput)("pull-request"),
             targetBranch: (0, core_1.getInput)("target-branch"),
-            folder: this._getOrUndefined("folder"),
-            title: this._getOrUndefined("title"),
-            body: this._getOrUndefined("body"),
-            bodyPrefix: this._getOrUndefined("body-prefix"),
-            bpBranchName: this._getOrUndefined("bp-branch-name"),
+            folder: this.getOrUndefined("folder"),
+            gitUser: this.getOrDefault("git-user", "GitHub"),
+            gitEmail: this.getOrDefault("git-email", "noreply@github.com"),
+            title: this.getOrUndefined("title"),
+            body: this.getOrUndefined("body"),
+            bodyPrefix: this.getOrUndefined("body-prefix"),
+            bpBranchName: this.getOrUndefined("bp-branch-name"),
+            reviewers: this.getAsCommaSeparatedList("reviewers"),
+            assignees: this.getAsCommaSeparatedList("assignees"),
+            inheritReviewers: !this.getAsBooleanOrDefault("no-inherit-reviewers", false),
         };
     }
 }
@@ -117,11 +135,14 @@ class PullRequestConfigsParser extends configs_parser_1.default {
         return {
             dryRun: args.dryRun,
             auth: args.auth,
-            author: args.author ?? pr.author,
             folder: `${folder.startsWith("/") ? "" : process.cwd() + "/"}${args.folder ?? this.getDefaultFolder()}`,
             targetBranch: args.targetBranch,
             originalPullRequest: pr,
-            backportPullRequest: this.getDefaultBackportPullRequest(pr, args)
+            backportPullRequest: this.getDefaultBackportPullRequest(pr, args),
+            git: {
+                user: args.gitUser,
+                email: args.gitEmail,
+            }
         };
     }
     getDefaultFolder() {
@@ -135,18 +156,22 @@ class PullRequestConfigsParser extends configs_parser_1.default {
      * @returns {GitPullRequest}
      */
     getDefaultBackportPullRequest(originalPullRequest, args) {
-        const reviewers = [];
-        reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.author);
-        if (originalPullRequest.mergedBy) {
-            reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.mergedBy);
+        const reviewers = args.reviewers ?? [];
+        if (reviewers.length == 0 && args.inheritReviewers) {
+            // inherit only if args.reviewers is empty and args.inheritReviewers set to true
+            reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.author);
+            if (originalPullRequest.mergedBy) {
+                reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.mergedBy);
+            }
         }
         const bodyPrefix = args.bodyPrefix ?? `**Backport:** ${originalPullRequest.htmlUrl}\r\n\r\n`;
         const body = args.body ?? `${originalPullRequest.body}\r\n\r\nPowered by [BPer](https://github.com/lampajr/backporting).`;
         return {
-            author: originalPullRequest.author,
+            author: args.gitUser,
             title: args.title ?? `[${args.targetBranch}] ${originalPullRequest.title}`,
             body: `${bodyPrefix}${body}`,
             reviewers: [...new Set(reviewers)],
+            assignees: [...new Set(args.assignees)],
             targetRepo: originalPullRequest.targetRepo,
             sourceRepo: originalPullRequest.targetRepo,
             branchName: args.bpBranchName,
@@ -176,10 +201,10 @@ const fs_1 = __importDefault(__nccwpck_require__(7147));
  * Command line git commands executor service
  */
 class GitCLIService {
-    constructor(auth, author) {
+    constructor(auth, gitData) {
         this.logger = logger_service_factory_1.default.getLogger();
         this.auth = auth;
-        this.author = author;
+        this.gitData = gitData;
     }
     /**
      * Return a pre-configured SimpleGit instance able to execute commands from current
@@ -189,15 +214,15 @@ class GitCLIService {
      */
     git(cwd) {
         const gitConfig = { ...(cwd ? { baseDir: cwd } : {}) };
-        return (0, simple_git_1.default)(gitConfig).addConfig("user.name", this.author).addConfig("user.email", "noreply@github.com");
+        return (0, simple_git_1.default)(gitConfig).addConfig("user.name", this.gitData.user).addConfig("user.email", this.gitData.email);
     }
     /**
      * Update the provided remote URL by adding the auth token if not empty
      * @param remoteURL remote link, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting-example.git
      */
     remoteWithAuth(remoteURL) {
-        if (this.auth && this.author) {
-            return remoteURL.replace("://", `://${this.author}:${this.auth}@`);
+        if (this.auth && this.gitData.user) {
+            return remoteURL.replace("://", `://${this.gitData.user}:${this.auth}@`);
         }
         // return remote as it is
         return remoteURL;
@@ -366,6 +391,7 @@ class GitHubMapper {
             merged: pr.merged ?? false,
             mergedBy: pr.merged_by?.login,
             reviewers: pr.requested_reviewers.filter(r => "login" in r).map((r => r?.login)),
+            assignees: pr.assignees.filter(r => "login" in r).map(r => r.login),
             sourceRepo: {
                 owner: pr.head.repo.full_name.split("/")[0],
                 project: pr.head.repo.full_name.split("/")[1],
@@ -437,13 +463,26 @@ class GitHubService {
                     owner: backport.owner,
                     repo: backport.repo,
                     pull_number: data.number,
-                    reviewers: backport.reviewers
+                    reviewers: backport.reviewers,
                 });
             }
             catch (error) {
                 this.logger.error(`Error requesting reviewers: ${error}`);
             }
         }
+        if (backport.assignees.length > 0) {
+            try {
+                await this.octokit.issues.addAssignees({
+                    owner: backport.owner,
+                    repo: backport.repo,
+                    issue_number: data.number,
+                    assignees: backport.assignees,
+                });
+            }
+            catch (error) {
+                this.logger.error(`Error setting assignees: ${error}`);
+            }
+        }
     }
     // UTILS
     /**
@@ -648,7 +687,7 @@ class Runner {
         const originalPR = configs.originalPullRequest;
         const backportPR = configs.backportPullRequest;
         // start local git operations
-        const git = new git_cli_1.default(configs.auth, configs.author);
+        const git = new git_cli_1.default(configs.auth, configs.git);
         // 4. clone the repository
         await git.clone(configs.originalPullRequest.targetRepo.cloneUrl, configs.folder, configs.targetBranch);
         // 5. create new branch from target one and checkout
@@ -670,7 +709,8 @@ class Runner {
             base: configs.targetBranch,
             title: backportPR.title,
             body: backportPR.body,
-            reviewers: backportPR.reviewers
+            reviewers: backportPR.reviewers,
+            assignees: backportPR.assignees,
         };
         if (!configs.dryRun) {
             // 8. push the new branch to origin
diff --git a/src/service/args/args.types.ts b/src/service/args/args.types.ts
index 0986fdf..9751ee6 100644
--- a/src/service/args/args.types.ts
+++ b/src/service/args/args.types.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,13 @@ export interface Args {
   targetBranch: string,  // branch on the target repo where the change should be backported to
   pullRequest: string, // url of the pull request to backport
   folder?: string, // local folder where the repositories should be cloned
-  author?: string, // backport pr author, default taken from pr
+  gitUser: string, // local git user, default 'GitHub'
+  gitEmail: string, // local git email, default 'noreply@github.com'
   title?: string, // backport pr title, default original pr title prefixed by target branch
   body?: string, // backport pr title, default original pr body prefixed by bodyPrefix
   bodyPrefix?: string, // backport pr body prefix, default `backport <original-pr-link>`
   bpBranchName?: string, // backport pr branch name, default computed from commit
+  reviewers?: string[], // backport pr reviewers
+  assignees?: string[], // backport pr assignees
+  inheritReviewers: boolean, // if true and reviewers == [] then inherit reviewers from original pr
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.ts b/src/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.ts
index 8f2b26a..cb20d9a 100644
--- a/src/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.ts
+++ b/src/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ import { Args } from "@bp/service/args/args.types";
 import { Command } from "commander";
 import { name, version, description } from "@bp/../package.json";
 
+function commaSeparatedList(value: string, _prev: unknown): string[] {
+  // remove all whitespaces
+  const cleanedValue: string = value.trim();
+  return cleanedValue !== "" ? cleanedValue.replace(/\s/g, "").split(",") : [];
+}
 
 export default class CLIArgsParser implements ArgsParser {
 
@@ -11,14 +16,19 @@ export default class CLIArgsParser implements ArgsParser {
       .version(version)
       .description(description)
       .requiredOption("-tb, --target-branch <branch>", "branch where changes must be backported to.")
-      .requiredOption("-pr, --pull-request <pr url>", "pull request url, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting/pull/1.")
+      .requiredOption("-pr, --pull-request <pr-url>", "pull request url, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting/pull/1.")
       .option("-d, --dry-run", "if enabled the tool does not create any pull request nor push anything remotely", false)
       .option("-a, --auth <auth>", "git service authentication string, e.g., github token.", "")
+      .option("-gu, --git-user <git-user>", "local git user name, default is 'GitHub'.", "GitHub")
+      .option("-ge, --git-email <git-email>", "local git user email, default is 'noreply@github.com'.", "noreply@github.com")
       .option("-f, --folder <folder>", "local folder where the repo will be checked out, e.g., /tmp/folder.", undefined)
-      .option("--title <folder>", "backport pr title, default original pr title prefixed by target branch.", undefined)
-      .option("--body <folder>", "backport pr title, default original pr body prefixed by bodyPrefix.", undefined)
-      .option("--body-prefix <folder>", "backport pr body prefix, default `backport <original-pr-link>`.", undefined)
-      .option("--bp-branch-name <folder>", "backport pr branch name, default auto-generated by the commit.", undefined);
+      .option("--title <bp-title>", "backport pr title, default original pr title prefixed by target branch.", undefined)
+      .option("--body <bp-body>", "backport pr title, default original pr body prefixed by bodyPrefix.", undefined)
+      .option("--body-prefix <bp-body-prefix>", "backport pr body prefix, default `backport <original-pr-link>`.", undefined)
+      .option("--bp-branch-name <bp-branch-name>", "backport pr branch name, default auto-generated by the commit.", undefined)
+      .option("--reviewers <reviewers>", "comma separated list of reviewers for the backporting pull request.", commaSeparatedList, [])
+      .option("--assignees <assignees>", "comma separated list of assignees for the backporting pull request.", commaSeparatedList, [])
+      .option("--no-inherit-reviewers", "if provided and reviewers option is empty then inherit them from original pull request", true);
   }
 
   parse(): Args {
@@ -32,10 +42,15 @@ export default class CLIArgsParser implements ArgsParser {
       pullRequest: opts.pullRequest,
       targetBranch: opts.targetBranch,
       folder: opts.folder,
+      gitUser: opts.gitUser,
+      gitEmail: opts.gitEmail,
       title: opts.title,
       body: opts.body,
       bodyPrefix: opts.bodyPrefix,
       bpBranchName: opts.bpBranchName,
+      reviewers: opts.reviewers,
+      assignees: opts.assignees,
+      inheritReviewers: opts.inheritReviewers,
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/src/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.ts b/src/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.ts
index e298443..0ab2ee9 100644
--- a/src/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.ts
+++ b/src/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.ts
@@ -9,22 +9,43 @@ export default class GHAArgsParser implements ArgsParser {
    * @param key input key
    * @returns the value or undefined
    */
-  private _getOrUndefined(key: string): string | undefined {
+  public getOrUndefined(key: string): string | undefined {
     const value = getInput(key);
     return value !== "" ? value : undefined;
   }
 
+  public getOrDefault(key: string, defaultValue: string): string {
+    const value = getInput(key);
+    return value !== "" ? value : defaultValue;
+  }
+
+  public getAsCommaSeparatedList(key: string): string[] {
+    // trim the value
+    const value: string = (getInput(key) ?? "").trim();
+    return value !== "" ? value.replace(/\s/g, "").split(",") : []; 
+  }
+
+  public getAsBooleanOrDefault(key: string, defaultValue: boolean): boolean {
+    const value = getInput(key).trim();
+    return value !== "" ? value.toLowerCase() === "true" : defaultValue;
+  }
+
   parse(): Args {
     return {
-      dryRun: getInput("dry-run") === "true",
-      auth: getInput("auth") ? getInput("auth") : "",
+      dryRun: this.getAsBooleanOrDefault("dry-run", false),
+      auth: getInput("auth"),
       pullRequest: getInput("pull-request"),
       targetBranch: getInput("target-branch"),
-      folder: this._getOrUndefined("folder"),
-      title: this._getOrUndefined("title"),
-      body: this._getOrUndefined("body"),
-      bodyPrefix: this._getOrUndefined("body-prefix"),
-      bpBranchName: this._getOrUndefined("bp-branch-name"),
+      folder: this.getOrUndefined("folder"),
+      gitUser: this.getOrDefault("git-user", "GitHub"),
+      gitEmail: this.getOrDefault("git-email", "noreply@github.com"),
+      title: this.getOrUndefined("title"),
+      body: this.getOrUndefined("body"),
+      bodyPrefix: this.getOrUndefined("body-prefix"),
+      bpBranchName: this.getOrUndefined("bp-branch-name"),
+      reviewers: this.getAsCommaSeparatedList("reviewers"),
+      assignees: this.getAsCommaSeparatedList("assignees"),
+      inheritReviewers: !this.getAsBooleanOrDefault("no-inherit-reviewers", false),
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/src/service/configs/configs.types.ts b/src/service/configs/configs.types.ts
index ab3f84b..cb3c0f1 100644
--- a/src/service/configs/configs.types.ts
+++ b/src/service/configs/configs.types.ts
@@ -2,16 +2,21 @@
 
 import { GitPullRequest } from "@bp/service/git/git.types";
 
+export interface LocalGit {
+  user: string, // local git user
+  email: string, // local git email
+} 
+
 /**
  * Internal configuration object
  */
 export interface Configs {
   dryRun: boolean,
   auth: string,
-  author: string, // author of the backport pr
+  git: LocalGit,
   folder: string,
   targetBranch: string,
   originalPullRequest: GitPullRequest,
-  backportPullRequest: GitPullRequest
+  backportPullRequest: GitPullRequest,
  }
 
diff --git a/src/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.ts b/src/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.ts
index 8e5034e..4cba755 100644
--- a/src/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.ts
+++ b/src/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.ts
@@ -21,11 +21,14 @@ export default class PullRequestConfigsParser extends ConfigsParser {
     return {
       dryRun: args.dryRun,
       auth: args.auth,
-      author: args.author ?? pr.author,
       folder: `${folder.startsWith("/") ? "" : process.cwd() + "/"}${args.folder ?? this.getDefaultFolder()}`,
       targetBranch: args.targetBranch,
       originalPullRequest: pr,
-      backportPullRequest: this.getDefaultBackportPullRequest(pr, args)
+      backportPullRequest: this.getDefaultBackportPullRequest(pr, args),
+      git: {
+        user: args.gitUser,
+        email: args.gitEmail,
+      }
     };
   }
   
@@ -41,20 +44,24 @@ export default class PullRequestConfigsParser extends ConfigsParser {
    * @returns {GitPullRequest}
    */
   private getDefaultBackportPullRequest(originalPullRequest: GitPullRequest, args: Args): GitPullRequest {
-    const reviewers = [];
-    reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.author);
-    if (originalPullRequest.mergedBy) {
-      reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.mergedBy);  
+    const reviewers = args.reviewers ?? [];
+    if (reviewers.length == 0 && args.inheritReviewers) {
+      // inherit only if args.reviewers is empty and args.inheritReviewers set to true
+      reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.author);
+      if (originalPullRequest.mergedBy) {
+        reviewers.push(originalPullRequest.mergedBy);  
+      }
     }
 
     const bodyPrefix = args.bodyPrefix ?? `**Backport:** ${originalPullRequest.htmlUrl}\r\n\r\n`;
     const body = args.body ?? `${originalPullRequest.body}\r\n\r\nPowered by [BPer](https://github.com/lampajr/backporting).`;
     
     return {
-      author: originalPullRequest.author,
+      author: args.gitUser,
       title: args.title ?? `[${args.targetBranch}] ${originalPullRequest.title}`, 
       body: `${bodyPrefix}${body}`,
       reviewers: [...new Set(reviewers)],
+      assignees: [...new Set(args.assignees)],
       targetRepo: originalPullRequest.targetRepo,
       sourceRepo: originalPullRequest.targetRepo,
       branchName: args.bpBranchName,
diff --git a/src/service/git/git-cli.ts b/src/service/git/git-cli.ts
index 8c3b628..4781aff 100644
--- a/src/service/git/git-cli.ts
+++ b/src/service/git/git-cli.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import LoggerService from "@bp/service/logger/logger-service";
 import LoggerServiceFactory from "@bp/service/logger/logger-service-factory";
 import simpleGit, { SimpleGit } from "simple-git";
 import fs from "fs";
+import { LocalGit } from "@bp/service/configs/configs.types";
 
 /**
  * Command line git commands executor service
@@ -10,12 +11,12 @@ export default class GitCLIService {
 
   private readonly logger: LoggerService;
   private readonly auth: string;
-  private readonly author: string;
+  private readonly gitData: LocalGit;
 
-  constructor(auth: string, author: string) {
+  constructor(auth: string, gitData: LocalGit) {
     this.logger = LoggerServiceFactory.getLogger();
     this.auth  = auth;
-    this.author = author;
+    this.gitData = gitData;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ export default class GitCLIService {
    */
   private git(cwd?: string): SimpleGit {
     const gitConfig = { ...(cwd ? { baseDir: cwd } : {})};
-    return simpleGit(gitConfig).addConfig("user.name", this.author).addConfig("user.email", "noreply@github.com");
+    return simpleGit(gitConfig).addConfig("user.name", this.gitData.user).addConfig("user.email", this.gitData.email);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -34,8 +35,8 @@ export default class GitCLIService {
    * @param remoteURL remote link, e.g., https://github.com/lampajr/backporting-example.git
    */
   private remoteWithAuth(remoteURL: string): string {
-    if (this.auth && this.author) {
-      return remoteURL.replace("://", `://${this.author}:${this.auth}@`);
+    if (this.auth && this.gitData.user) {
+      return remoteURL.replace("://", `://${this.gitData.user}:${this.auth}@`);
     }
 
     // return remote as it is
diff --git a/src/service/git/git.types.ts b/src/service/git/git.types.ts
index ba90f6d..05db4a0 100644
--- a/src/service/git/git.types.ts
+++ b/src/service/git/git.types.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export interface GitPullRequest {
   title: string,
   body: string,
   reviewers: string[],
+  assignees: string[],
   targetRepo: GitRepository,
   sourceRepo: GitRepository,
   nCommits: number, // number of commits in the pr
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ export interface BackportPullRequest {
   title: string, // pr title
   body: string, // pr body
   reviewers: string[], // pr list of reviewers
+  assignees: string[], // pr list of assignees
   branchName?: string,
 }
 
diff --git a/src/service/git/github/github-mapper.ts b/src/service/git/github/github-mapper.ts
index 8b519aa..e21d95c 100644
--- a/src/service/git/github/github-mapper.ts
+++ b/src/service/git/github/github-mapper.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export default class GitHubMapper {
       merged: pr.merged ?? false,
       mergedBy: pr.merged_by?.login,
       reviewers: pr.requested_reviewers.filter(r => "login" in r).map((r => (r as User)?.login)),
+      assignees: pr.assignees.filter(r => "login" in r).map(r => r.login),
       sourceRepo: {
         owner: pr.head.repo.full_name.split("/")[0],
         project: pr.head.repo.full_name.split("/")[1],
diff --git a/src/service/git/github/github-service.ts b/src/service/git/github/github-service.ts
index 3b016be..073fd1b 100644
--- a/src/service/git/github/github-service.ts
+++ b/src/service/git/github/github-service.ts
@@ -58,12 +58,25 @@ export default class GitHubService implements GitService {
           owner: backport.owner,
           repo: backport.repo,
           pull_number: (data as PullRequest).number,
-          reviewers: backport.reviewers
+          reviewers: backport.reviewers,
         });
       } catch (error) {
         this.logger.error(`Error requesting reviewers: ${error}`);
       }
     }
+
+    if (backport.assignees.length > 0) {
+      try {
+        await this.octokit.issues.addAssignees({
+          owner: backport.owner,
+          repo: backport.repo,
+          issue_number: (data as PullRequest).number,
+          assignees: backport.assignees,
+        });
+      } catch (error) {
+        this.logger.error(`Error setting assignees: ${error}`);
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   // UTILS
diff --git a/src/service/runner/runner.ts b/src/service/runner/runner.ts
index b4bf10d..c604093 100644
--- a/src/service/runner/runner.ts
+++ b/src/service/runner/runner.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export default class Runner {
     const backportPR: GitPullRequest = configs.backportPullRequest;
 
     // start local git operations
-    const git: GitCLIService = new GitCLIService(configs.auth, configs.author);
+    const git: GitCLIService = new GitCLIService(configs.auth, configs.git);
     
     // 4. clone the repository
     await git.clone(configs.originalPullRequest.targetRepo.cloneUrl, configs.folder, configs.targetBranch);
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ export default class Runner {
       base: configs.targetBranch,
       title: backportPR.title,
       body: backportPR.body,
-      reviewers: backportPR.reviewers
+      reviewers: backportPR.reviewers,
+      assignees: backportPR.assignees,
     };
 
     if (!configs.dryRun) {
diff --git a/test/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.test.ts b/test/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.test.ts
index 6fbb5f2..ba2f59c 100644
--- a/test/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.test.ts
+++ b/test/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Args } from "@bp/service/args/args.types";
 import CLIArgsParser from "@bp/service/args/cli/cli-args-parser";
-import { addProcessArgs, resetProcessArgs } from "../../../support/utils";
+import { addProcessArgs, resetProcessArgs, expectArrayEqual } from "../../../support/utils";
 
 describe("cli args parser", () => {
   let parser: CLIArgsParser;
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
     const args: Args = parser.parse();
     expect(args.dryRun).toEqual(false);
     expect(args.auth).toEqual("");
-    expect(args.author).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.gitUser).toEqual("GitHub");
+    expect(args.gitEmail).toEqual("noreply@github.com");
     expect(args.folder).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.targetBranch).toEqual("target");
     expect(args.pullRequest).toEqual("https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1");
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
     expect(args.body).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.bodyPrefix).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.bpBranchName).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.reviewers).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.assignees).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.inheritReviewers).toEqual(true);
   });
 
   test("valid execution [default, long]", () => {
@@ -45,7 +49,8 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
     const args: Args = parser.parse();
     expect(args.dryRun).toEqual(false);
     expect(args.auth).toEqual("");
-    expect(args.author).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.gitUser).toEqual("GitHub");
+    expect(args.gitEmail).toEqual("noreply@github.com");
     expect(args.folder).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.targetBranch).toEqual("target");
     expect(args.pullRequest).toEqual("https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1");
@@ -53,6 +58,9 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
     expect(args.body).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.bodyPrefix).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.bpBranchName).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.reviewers).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.assignees).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.inheritReviewers).toEqual(true);
   });
 
   test("valid execution [override, short]", () => {
@@ -63,13 +71,18 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
       "-tb",
       "target",
       "-pr",
-      "https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1"
+      "https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1",
+      "-gu",
+      "Me",
+      "-ge",
+      "me@email.com",
     ]);
 
     const args: Args = parser.parse();
     expect(args.dryRun).toEqual(true);
     expect(args.auth).toEqual("bearer-token");
-    expect(args.author).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.gitUser).toEqual("Me");
+    expect(args.gitEmail).toEqual("me@email.com");
     expect(args.folder).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.targetBranch).toEqual("target");
     expect(args.pullRequest).toEqual("https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1");
@@ -77,6 +90,9 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
     expect(args.body).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.bodyPrefix).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.bpBranchName).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.reviewers).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.assignees).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.inheritReviewers).toEqual(true);
   });
 
   test("valid execution [override, long]", () => {
@@ -88,6 +104,10 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
       "target",
       "--pull-request",
       "https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1",
+      "--git-user",
+      "Me",
+      "--git-email",
+      "me@email.com",
       "--title",
       "New Title",
       "--body",
@@ -96,12 +116,18 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
       "New Body Prefix",
       "--bp-branch-name",
       "bp_branch_name",
+      "--reviewers",
+      "al , john,  jack",
+      "--assignees",
+      " pippo,pluto, paperino",
+      "--no-inherit-reviewers",
     ]);
 
     const args: Args = parser.parse();
     expect(args.dryRun).toEqual(true);
     expect(args.auth).toEqual("bearer-token");
-    expect(args.author).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.gitUser).toEqual("Me");
+    expect(args.gitEmail).toEqual("me@email.com");
     expect(args.folder).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.targetBranch).toEqual("target");
     expect(args.pullRequest).toEqual("https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1");
@@ -109,6 +135,9 @@ describe("cli args parser", () => {
     expect(args.body).toEqual("New Body");
     expect(args.bodyPrefix).toEqual("New Body Prefix");
     expect(args.bpBranchName).toEqual("bp_branch_name");
+    expectArrayEqual(["al", "john", "jack"], args.reviewers!);
+    expectArrayEqual(["pippo", "pluto", "paperino"], args.assignees!);
+    expect(args.inheritReviewers).toEqual(false);
   });
 
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.test.ts b/test/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.test.ts
index e8cc233..701ac03 100644
--- a/test/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.test.ts
+++ b/test/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Args } from "@bp/service/args/args.types";
 import GHAArgsParser from "@bp/service/args/gha/gha-args-parser";
-import { spyGetInput } from "../../../support/utils";
+import { spyGetInput, expectArrayEqual } from "../../../support/utils";
 
 describe("gha args parser", () => {
   let parser: GHAArgsParser;
@@ -14,6 +14,33 @@ describe("gha args parser", () => {
     jest.clearAllMocks();
   });
 
+  test("getOrDefault", () => {
+    spyGetInput({
+      "present": "value"
+    });
+    expect(parser.getOrDefault("not-present", "default")).toStrictEqual("default");
+    expect(parser.getOrDefault("present", "default")).toStrictEqual("value");
+  });
+
+  test("getOrUndefined", () => {
+    spyGetInput({
+      "present": "value",
+      "empty": "",
+    });
+    expect(parser.getOrUndefined("empty")).toStrictEqual(undefined);
+    expect(parser.getOrUndefined("present")).toStrictEqual("value");
+  });
+
+  test("getAsCommaSeparatedList", () => {
+    spyGetInput({
+      "present": "value1, value2 ,   value3",
+      "empty": "",
+      "blank": "   ",
+    });
+    expectArrayEqual(parser.getAsCommaSeparatedList("present")!, ["value1", "value2", "value3"]);
+    expect(parser.getAsCommaSeparatedList("empty")).toStrictEqual([]);
+    expect(parser.getAsCommaSeparatedList("blank")).toStrictEqual([]);
+  });
 
   test("valid execution [default]", () => {
     spyGetInput({
@@ -24,14 +51,16 @@ describe("gha args parser", () => {
     const args: Args = parser.parse();
     expect(args.dryRun).toEqual(false);
     expect(args.auth).toEqual("");
-    expect(args.author).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.gitUser).toEqual("GitHub");
+    expect(args.gitEmail).toEqual("noreply@github.com");
     expect(args.folder).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.targetBranch).toEqual("target");
     expect(args.pullRequest).toEqual("https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1");
     expect(args.title).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.body).toEqual(undefined);
-    expect(args.bodyPrefix).toEqual(undefined);
-    expect(args.bpBranchName).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.reviewers).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.assignees).toEqual([]);
+    expect(args.inheritReviewers).toEqual(true);
   });
 
   test("valid execution [override]", () => {
@@ -40,16 +69,22 @@ describe("gha args parser", () => {
       "auth": "bearer-token",
       "target-branch": "target",
       "pull-request": "https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1",
+      "git-user": "Me",
+      "git-email": "me@email.com",
       "title": "New Title",
       "body": "New Body",
       "body-prefix": "New Body Prefix",
       "bp-branch-name": "bp_branch_name",
+      "reviewers": "al , john,  jack",
+      "assignees": " pippo,pluto, paperino",
+      "no-inherit-reviewers": "true",
     });
 
     const args: Args = parser.parse();
     expect(args.dryRun).toEqual(true);
     expect(args.auth).toEqual("bearer-token");
-    expect(args.author).toEqual(undefined);
+    expect(args.gitUser).toEqual("Me");
+    expect(args.gitEmail).toEqual("me@email.com");
     expect(args.folder).toEqual(undefined);
     expect(args.targetBranch).toEqual("target");
     expect(args.pullRequest).toEqual("https://localhost/whatever/pulls/1");
@@ -57,6 +92,9 @@ describe("gha args parser", () => {
     expect(args.body).toEqual("New Body");
     expect(args.bodyPrefix).toEqual("New Body Prefix");
     expect(args.bpBranchName).toEqual("bp_branch_name");
+    expectArrayEqual(["al", "john", "jack"], args.reviewers!);
+    expectArrayEqual(["pippo", "pluto", "paperino"], args.assignees!);
+    expect(args.inheritReviewers).toEqual(false);
   });
 
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.test.ts b/test/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.test.ts
index c57fcec..52dab30 100644
--- a/test/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.test.ts
+++ b/test/service/configs/pullrequest/pr-configs-parser.test.ts
@@ -33,13 +33,21 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       dryRun: false,
       auth: "",
       pullRequest: mergedPRUrl,
-      targetBranch: "prod"
+      targetBranch: "prod",
+      gitUser: "GitHub",
+      gitEmail: "noreply@github.com",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: [],
+      inheritReviewers: true,
     };
 
     const configs: Configs = await parser.parseAndValidate(args);
 
     expect(configs.dryRun).toEqual(false);
-    expect(configs.author).toEqual("gh-user");
+    expect(configs.git).toEqual({
+      user: "GitHub",
+      email: "noreply@github.com"
+    });
     expect(configs.auth).toEqual("");
     expect(configs.targetBranch).toEqual("prod");
     expect(configs.folder).toEqual(process.cwd() + "/bp");
@@ -54,6 +62,7 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       title: "PR Title",
       body: "Please review and merge",
       reviewers: ["requested-gh-user", "gh-user"],
+      assignees: [],
       targetRepo: {
         owner: "owner",
         project: "reponame",
@@ -68,12 +77,13 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       commits: ["28f63db774185f4ec4b57cd9aaeb12dbfb4c9ecc"]
     });
     expect(configs.backportPullRequest).toEqual({
-      author: "gh-user",
+      author: "GitHub",
       url: undefined,
       htmlUrl: undefined,
       title: "[prod] PR Title",
       body: "**Backport:** https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/2368\r\n\r\nPlease review and merge\r\n\r\nPowered by [BPer](https://github.com/lampajr/backporting).",
       reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"],
+      assignees: [],
       targetRepo: {
         owner: "owner",
         project: "reponame",
@@ -96,7 +106,12 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       auth: "whatever",
       pullRequest: mergedPRUrl,
       targetBranch: "prod",
-      folder: "/tmp/test"
+      folder: "/tmp/test",
+      gitUser: "GitHub",
+      gitEmail: "noreply@github.com",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: [],
+      inheritReviewers: true,
     };
 
     const configs: Configs = await parser.parseAndValidate(args);
@@ -105,6 +120,10 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
     expect(configs.auth).toEqual("whatever");
     expect(configs.targetBranch).toEqual("prod");
     expect(configs.folder).toEqual("/tmp/test");
+    expect(configs.git).toEqual({
+      user: "GitHub",
+      email: "noreply@github.com"
+    });
   });
 
   test("override author", async () => {
@@ -113,7 +132,11 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       auth: "whatever",
       pullRequest: mergedPRUrl,
       targetBranch: "prod",
-      author: "another-user"
+      gitUser: "GitHub",
+      gitEmail: "noreply@github.com",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: [],
+      inheritReviewers: true,
     };
 
     const configs: Configs = await parser.parseAndValidate(args);
@@ -121,7 +144,10 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
     expect(configs.dryRun).toEqual(true);
     expect(configs.auth).toEqual("whatever");
     expect(configs.targetBranch).toEqual("prod");
-    expect(configs.author).toEqual("another-user");
+    expect(configs.git).toEqual({
+      user: "GitHub",
+      email: "noreply@github.com"
+    });
   });
 
   test("still open pull request", async () => {
@@ -129,7 +155,12 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       dryRun: true,
       auth: "whatever",
       pullRequest: openPRUrl,
-      targetBranch: "prod"
+      targetBranch: "prod",
+      gitUser: "GitHub",
+      gitEmail: "noreply@github.com",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: [],
+      inheritReviewers: true,
     };
 
     const configs: Configs = await parser.parseAndValidate(args);
@@ -137,7 +168,10 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
     expect(configs.dryRun).toEqual(true);
     expect(configs.auth).toEqual("whatever");
     expect(configs.targetBranch).toEqual("prod");
-    expect(configs.author).toEqual("gh-user");
+    expect(configs.git).toEqual({
+      user: "GitHub",
+      email: "noreply@github.com"
+    });
     expect(configs.originalPullRequest).toEqual({
       number: 4444,
       author: "gh-user",
@@ -149,6 +183,7 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       title: "PR Title",
       body: "Please review and merge",
       reviewers: ["gh-user"],
+      assignees: [],
       targetRepo: {
         owner: "owner",
         project: "reponame",
@@ -171,27 +206,41 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       dryRun: true,
       auth: "whatever",
       pullRequest: notMergedPRUrl,
-      targetBranch: "prod"
+      targetBranch: "prod",
+      gitUser: "GitHub",
+      gitEmail: "noreply@github.com",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: [],
+      inheritReviewers: true,
     };
 
     expect(async () => await parser.parseAndValidate(args)).rejects.toThrow("Provided pull request is closed and not merged!");
   });
 
-  test("override backport pr data", async () => {
+  
+  test("override backport pr data inherting reviewers", async () => {
     const args: Args = {
       dryRun: false,
       auth: "",
       pullRequest: mergedPRUrl,
       targetBranch: "prod",
+      gitUser: "Me",
+      gitEmail: "me@email.com",
       title: "New Title",
       body: "New Body",
       bodyPrefix: "New Body Prefix -",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: [],
+      inheritReviewers: true,
     };
 
     const configs: Configs = await parser.parseAndValidate(args);
 
     expect(configs.dryRun).toEqual(false);
-    expect(configs.author).toEqual("gh-user");
+    expect(configs.git).toEqual({
+      user: "Me",
+      email: "me@email.com"
+    });
     expect(configs.auth).toEqual("");
     expect(configs.targetBranch).toEqual("prod");
     expect(configs.folder).toEqual(process.cwd() + "/bp");
@@ -206,6 +255,7 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       title: "PR Title",
       body: "Please review and merge",
       reviewers: ["requested-gh-user", "gh-user"],
+      assignees: [],
       targetRepo: {
         owner: "owner",
         project: "reponame",
@@ -221,12 +271,165 @@ describe("pull request config parser", () => {
       commits: ["28f63db774185f4ec4b57cd9aaeb12dbfb4c9ecc"],
     });
     expect(configs.backportPullRequest).toEqual({
-      author: "gh-user",
+      author: "Me",
       url: undefined,
       htmlUrl: undefined,
       title: "New Title",
       body: "New Body Prefix -New Body",
       reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"],
+      assignees: [],
+      targetRepo: {
+        owner: "owner",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame.git"
+      },
+      sourceRepo: {
+        owner: "owner",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame.git"
+      },
+      bpBranchName: undefined,
+      nCommits: 0,
+      commits: []
+    });
+  });
+
+  test("override backport pr reviewers and assignees", async () => {
+    const args: Args = {
+      dryRun: false,
+      auth: "",
+      pullRequest: mergedPRUrl,
+      targetBranch: "prod",
+      gitUser: "Me",
+      gitEmail: "me@email.com",
+      title: "New Title",
+      body: "New Body",
+      bodyPrefix: "New Body Prefix -",
+      reviewers: ["user1", "user2"],
+      assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
+      inheritReviewers: true, // not taken into account
+    };
+
+    const configs: Configs = await parser.parseAndValidate(args);
+
+    expect(configs.dryRun).toEqual(false);
+    expect(configs.git).toEqual({
+      user: "Me",
+      email: "me@email.com"
+    });
+    expect(configs.auth).toEqual("");
+    expect(configs.targetBranch).toEqual("prod");
+    expect(configs.folder).toEqual(process.cwd() + "/bp");
+    expect(configs.originalPullRequest).toEqual({
+      number: 2368,
+      author: "gh-user",
+      url: "https://api.github.com/repos/owner/reponame/pulls/2368",
+      htmlUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/2368",
+      state: "closed",
+      merged: true,
+      mergedBy: "that-s-a-user",
+      title: "PR Title",
+      body: "Please review and merge",
+      reviewers: ["requested-gh-user", "gh-user"],
+      assignees: [],
+      targetRepo: {
+        owner: "owner",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame.git"
+      },
+      sourceRepo: {
+        owner: "fork",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/fork/reponame.git"
+      },
+      bpBranchName: undefined,
+      nCommits: 2,
+      commits: ["28f63db774185f4ec4b57cd9aaeb12dbfb4c9ecc"],
+    });
+    expect(configs.backportPullRequest).toEqual({
+      author: "Me",
+      url: undefined,
+      htmlUrl: undefined,
+      title: "New Title",
+      body: "New Body Prefix -New Body",
+      reviewers: ["user1", "user2"],
+      assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
+      targetRepo: {
+        owner: "owner",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame.git"
+      },
+      sourceRepo: {
+        owner: "owner",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame.git"
+      },
+      bpBranchName: undefined,
+      nCommits: 0,
+      commits: []
+    });
+  });
+
+  test("override backport pr empty reviewers", async () => {
+    const args: Args = {
+      dryRun: false,
+      auth: "",
+      pullRequest: mergedPRUrl,
+      targetBranch: "prod",
+      gitUser: "Me",
+      gitEmail: "me@email.com",
+      title: "New Title",
+      body: "New Body",
+      bodyPrefix: "New Body Prefix -",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
+      inheritReviewers: false,
+    };
+
+    const configs: Configs = await parser.parseAndValidate(args);
+
+    expect(configs.dryRun).toEqual(false);
+    expect(configs.git).toEqual({
+      user: "Me",
+      email: "me@email.com"
+    });
+    expect(configs.auth).toEqual("");
+    expect(configs.targetBranch).toEqual("prod");
+    expect(configs.folder).toEqual(process.cwd() + "/bp");
+    expect(configs.originalPullRequest).toEqual({
+      number: 2368,
+      author: "gh-user",
+      url: "https://api.github.com/repos/owner/reponame/pulls/2368",
+      htmlUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/2368",
+      state: "closed",
+      merged: true,
+      mergedBy: "that-s-a-user",
+      title: "PR Title",
+      body: "Please review and merge",
+      reviewers: ["requested-gh-user", "gh-user"],
+      assignees: [],
+      targetRepo: {
+        owner: "owner",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/owner/reponame.git"
+      },
+      sourceRepo: {
+        owner: "fork",
+        project: "reponame",
+        cloneUrl: "https://github.com/fork/reponame.git"
+      },
+      bpBranchName: undefined,
+      nCommits: 2,
+      commits: ["28f63db774185f4ec4b57cd9aaeb12dbfb4c9ecc"],
+    });
+    expect(configs.backportPullRequest).toEqual({
+      author: "Me",
+      url: undefined,
+      htmlUrl: undefined,
+      title: "New Title",
+      body: "New Body Prefix -New Body",
+      reviewers: [],
+      assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
       targetRepo: {
         owner: "owner",
         project: "reponame",
diff --git a/test/service/git/git-cli.test.ts b/test/service/git/git-cli.test.ts
index 746d847..04c069f 100644
--- a/test/service/git/git-cli.test.ts
+++ b/test/service/git/git-cli.test.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,10 @@ afterAll(async () => {
 
 beforeEach(() => {
   // create a fresh instance of git before each test
-  git = new GitCLIService("", "author");
+  git = new GitCLIService("", {
+    user: "user",
+    email: "user@email.com"
+  });
 });
 
 describe("git cli service", () => {
diff --git a/test/service/runner/cli-runner.test.ts b/test/service/runner/cli-runner.test.ts
index f8c232d..bb758b5 100644
--- a/test/service/runner/cli-runner.test.ts
+++ b/test/service/runner/cli-runner.test.ts
@@ -188,7 +188,8 @@ describe("cli runner", () => {
         base: "target", 
         title: "[target] PR Title", 
         body: expect.stringContaining("**Backport:** https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/2368"),
-        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"]
+        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"],
+        assignees: [],
       }
     );
   });
@@ -227,7 +228,8 @@ describe("cli runner", () => {
         base: "target", 
         title: "[target] PR Title", 
         body: expect.stringContaining("**Backport:** https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/8632"),
-        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"]
+        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"],
+        assignees: [],
       }
     );
   });
@@ -278,7 +280,8 @@ describe("cli runner", () => {
         base: "target", 
         title: "[target] PR Title", 
         body: expect.stringContaining("**Backport:** https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/4444"),
-        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"]
+        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"],
+        assignees: [],
       }
     );
   });
@@ -297,6 +300,10 @@ describe("cli runner", () => {
       "New Body Prefix - ",
       "--bp-branch-name",
       "bp_branch_name",
+      "--reviewers",
+      "user1,user2",
+      "--assignees",
+      "user3,user4"
     ]);
     
     await runner.execute();
@@ -326,7 +333,60 @@ describe("cli runner", () => {
         base: "target", 
         title: "New Title", 
         body: "New Body Prefix - New Body",
-        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"]
+        reviewers: ["user1", "user2"],
+        assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
+      }
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("set empty reviewers", async () => {
+    addProcessArgs([
+      "-tb",
+      "target",
+      "-pr",
+      "https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/2368",
+      "--title",
+      "New Title",
+      "--body",
+      "New Body",
+      "--body-prefix",
+      "New Body Prefix - ",
+      "--bp-branch-name",
+      "bp_branch_name",
+      "--no-inherit-reviewers",
+      "--assignees",
+      "user3,user4",
+    ]);
+    
+    await runner.execute();
+
+    const cwd = process.cwd() + "/bp";
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.clone).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.clone).toBeCalledWith("https://github.com/owner/reponame.git", cwd, "target");
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.createLocalBranch).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.createLocalBranch).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "bp_branch_name");
+    
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.fetch).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.fetch).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "pull/2368/head:pr/2368");
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.cherryPick).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.cherryPick).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "28f63db774185f4ec4b57cd9aaeb12dbfb4c9ecc");
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.push).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.push).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "bp_branch_name");
+
+    expect(GitHubService.prototype.createPullRequest).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitHubService.prototype.createPullRequest).toBeCalledWith({
+        owner: "owner", 
+        repo: "reponame", 
+        head: "bp_branch_name", 
+        base: "target", 
+        title: "New Title", 
+        body: "New Body Prefix - New Body",
+        reviewers: [],
+        assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
       }
     );
   });
diff --git a/test/service/runner/gha-runner.test.ts b/test/service/runner/gha-runner.test.ts
index e1abfd0..f374527 100644
--- a/test/service/runner/gha-runner.test.ts
+++ b/test/service/runner/gha-runner.test.ts
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ describe("gha runner", () => {
         base: "target", 
         title: "[target] PR Title", 
         body: expect.stringContaining("**Backport:** https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/2368"),
-        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"]
+        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"],
+        assignees: [],
       }
     );
   });
@@ -134,7 +135,8 @@ describe("gha runner", () => {
         base: "target", 
         title: "[target] PR Title", 
         body: expect.stringContaining("**Backport:** https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/4444"),
-        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"]
+        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"],
+        assignees: [],
       }
     );
   });
@@ -147,6 +149,8 @@ describe("gha runner", () => {
       "body": "New Body",
       "body-prefix": "New Body Prefix - ",
       "bp-branch-name": "bp_branch_name",
+      "reviewers": "user1, user2",
+      "assignees": "user3, user4",
     });
 
     await runner.execute();
@@ -176,7 +180,54 @@ describe("gha runner", () => {
         base: "target", 
         title: "New Title", 
         body: "New Body Prefix - New Body",
-        reviewers: ["gh-user", "that-s-a-user"]
+        reviewers: ["user1", "user2"],
+        assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
+      }
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("set empty reviewers", async () => {
+    spyGetInput({
+      "target-branch": "target",
+      "pull-request": "https://github.com/owner/reponame/pull/2368",
+      "title": "New Title",
+      "body": "New Body",
+      "body-prefix": "New Body Prefix - ",
+      "bp-branch-name": "bp_branch_name",
+      "reviewers": "",
+      "assignees": "user3, user4",
+      "no-inherit-reviewers": "true",
+    });
+
+    await runner.execute();
+
+    const cwd = process.cwd() + "/bp";
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.clone).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.clone).toBeCalledWith("https://github.com/owner/reponame.git", cwd, "target");
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.createLocalBranch).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.createLocalBranch).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "bp_branch_name");
+    
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.fetch).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.fetch).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "pull/2368/head:pr/2368");
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.cherryPick).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.cherryPick).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "28f63db774185f4ec4b57cd9aaeb12dbfb4c9ecc");
+
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.push).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitCLIService.prototype.push).toBeCalledWith(cwd, "bp_branch_name");
+
+    expect(GitHubService.prototype.createPullRequest).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(GitHubService.prototype.createPullRequest).toBeCalledWith({
+        owner: "owner", 
+        repo: "reponame", 
+        head: "bp_branch_name", 
+        base: "target", 
+        title: "New Title", 
+        body: "New Body Prefix - New Body",
+        reviewers: [],
+        assignees: ["user3", "user4"],
       }
     );
   });
diff --git a/test/support/utils.ts b/test/support/utils.ts
index cacc557..8be9212 100644
--- a/test/support/utils.ts
+++ b/test/support/utils.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,16 @@ export const resetProcessArgs = () => {
 export const spyGetInput = (obj: any) => {
   const mock = jest.spyOn(core, "getInput");
   mock.mockImplementation((name: string) : string => {
-    return obj[name];
+    return obj[name] ?? "";
   });
+};
+
+/**
+ * Check array equality performing sort on both sides.
+ * DO NOT USE this if ordering matters
+ * @param actual 
+ * @param expected 
+ */
+export const expectArrayEqual = (actual: unknown[], expected: unknown[]) => {
+  expect(actual.sort()).toEqual(expected.sort());
 };
\ No newline at end of file