Lester Holt has announced that he will be stepping down as the anchor of NBC Nightly News at the beginning of the summer, marking the end of an era for one of the network’s most recognizable figures. NBC News confirmed Holt’s decision but has yet to name a successor.
Although he is leaving his role as the nightly news anchor, Holt is not departing from NBC entirely. Instead, he will transition into a full-time role at Dateline, where he has served as the primary anchor for nearly 15 years.
Reflecting on his long career in journalism, Holt expressed gratitude for the opportunities he has had.
“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 in a note to NBC staff, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News executive vice president of programming, praised Holt’s tenure at Nightly