After a decade as anchor, Lester Holt will present his final “NBC Nightly News” broadcast on May 30th. He’s transitioning full-time to “Dateline NBC,” a role he’s held since 2011.
Tom Llamas will take over as anchor, starting June 2nd. Currently anchoring “Top Story” on NBC News Now, Llamas frequently fills in for Holt on the network’s flagship newscast.
Holt's journey with NBCUniversal News Group began in 2000 as an MSNBC anchor, before moving to NBC News. He anchored “Weekend Today” from 2003 and weekend editions of “NBC Nightly News” from 2007. He took on the weekday anchor role in 2015, following Brian Williams, becoming the fourth solo anchor after John Chancellor, Tom Brokaw, and Williams. Significantly, he was also the first Black journalist to solo anchor a major U.S. network evening newscast.
With Holt's departure, David Muir of “ABC News” becomes the longest-serving evening news anchor among the major networks. Changes are also occurring elsewhere; CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell stepped down in January, remaining with the network as a senior correspondent.
Brian Stelter of CNN initially reported the date of Holt’s final broadcast and noted Llamas’s visits to NBC News affiliates. In his first public remarks since February’s announcement, Holt stated, “What I know is that journalism is still a noble profession. But one of tremendous responsibility. There is no room for arrogance if we are to succeed in our mission. There is however room for compassion.”