Lester Holt Out as ‘NBC Nightly News’ Anchor Months After Network Insisted He Wasn’t Going Anywhere

Lester Holt, who has been the anchor and managing editor of NBC’s “Nightly News” show for the past decade, announced Monday he is stepping down.

Holt said he would leave at the beginning of the summer.

He will remain active with NBC through remaining on  “Dateline,” according to NBC.

Holt has been the main anchor at “Dateline” since 2011.

“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,” Holt wrote to staff members.

“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,” he said.

NBC did not name a successor to Holt.

The news came just over six months since Puck News reported that Holt might be leaving the spot, according to a post on X.

July 31, 2024 @PuckNews:

“Well-placed sources at NBC believe Lester Holt, now 65, is likely to step down from NBC Nightly News following the inauguration. (An NBC News spokesperson denied any impending moves by Holt: “This is false. There have been no discussions or plans by… https://t.co/g7xlIQJFG7

— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) February 24, 2025

At the time, NBC responded to the speculation with a statement that said, “This is false. There have been no discussions or plans by Lester or by NBC News for him to change his role.”

The New York Post reported that senior national correspondent Tom Llamas could be a contender for Holt’s job.

NBC News Executive Vice President of Programming Janelle Rodriguez informed colleagues of the news on Monday.

“A short time ago, Lester d with his team that after 10 years as the NBC Nightly News anchor, he’s taking on a dedicated full-time role at Dateline, his second home. Lester will continue at the helm of Nightly until early summer before he devotes his energy to the rapidly-expanding powerhouse that is Dateline,” Rodriguez wrote, according to Fox News.

Holt’s departure comes amid a turnover in the media business.

As noted by Variety, Chuck Todd, the “Meet the Press” host, left NBC in January.

Andrea Mitchell, a longtime NBC and MSNBC presence, recently stepped away.

Further, Joy Reid lost her MSNBC show. Over at CNN, Jim Acosta was shifted to a late night spot, prompting him to quit.

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