Lester Holt is signing off at “NBC Nightly News.”
Holt, 65, will step down as anchor of the nightly news program after a decade, he announced Monday. He’s set to move to a full-time role as anchor for NBC’s “Dateline.”
A specific date for Holt’s last broadcast was not announced, but he will continue anchoring “NBC Nightly News” until early summer.
In a memo to staff about his “big decision,” Holt said “it has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day” at “Nightly News,” “keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do.”
Lester Holt attends the Time 100 Gala 2019 Lobby Arrivals at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 23, 2019, in New York City.
But Holt said he’s happy to be remaining with NBC and “expanding my footprint” at “Dateline” by exploring “subjects I care deeply about.”
“A smile comes to my face when I think that with ‘Nightly News,’ and ‘Dateline,’ I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history,” he said. “As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has. What an amazing ride.”
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Holt has served as “NBC Nightly News” anchor since 2015. He succeeded Brian Williams, who was suspended after revelations that he told a false story about being in a helicopter that went down in Iraq. Williams was later moved to MSNBC. Holt was previously the weekend anchor of “NBC Nightly News” since 2007, and he anchored “Weekend TODAY” for 12 years.
Lester Holt attends Town & Country’s Philanthropy Summit on Oct. 29, 2024.
NBC News executive vice president of programming Janelle Rodriguez described Holt on Monday as the “beating heart of this news organization,” adding, “He’s earned deep respect and reverence from our newsroom, industry colleagues and, most importantly, viewers.”
“What’s equally remarkable is how Lester has masterfully filled this esteemed role with extraordinary grace and humility,” Rodriguez continued. “He’s proven time and time again why he stands among the great legends of broadcast news.”
Holt joins a long list of high-profile anchors who have left their roles in recent months.
At NBC, Hoda Kotb exited the “Today” show last month, citing a desire to spend more time with her children. “Meet The Press” moderator Chuck Todd left NBC News in January, saying he was “excited about a few new projects that are on the cusp of going from ‘pie in the sky’ to ‘near reality.” Norah O’Donnell exited as the anchor of “CBS Evening News” last month, and at CNN, Chris Wallace stepped aside after the 2024 presidential election.
The same day Holt confirmed his departure, MSNBC also announced that Joy Reid’s show has been canceled, and she is leaving the network.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lester Holt leaving ‘NBC Nightly News,’ will focus on ‘Dateline’
