NEW YORK, NY – In a move that signals a significant shift for NBC News’ flagship evening broadcast, veteran anchor Lester Holt will step down from his role as the anchor of NBC Nightly News after a decade, the network announced in February. Holt will dedicate his full attention to Dateline NBC, with Tom Llamas set to take over the anchor desk on June 2, 2025.
- Anchor Departure: Lester Holt announces he will leave his role as anchor of NBC Nightly News after ten years.
- Successor Named: Tom Llamas, currently hosting “Top Story with Tom Llamas” on NBC News NOW, will take over as the new anchor.
- Focus on Dateline: Holt will remain with NBC News as the full-time anchor of Dateline NBC, with the transition occurring at the end of May 2025.
Lester Holt to Depart NBC Nightly News
Veteran news anchor Lester Holt has announced his decision to step down from his role as the anchor of NBC Nightly News after a decade at the helm. The announcement, made in February 2025, signals a significant shift for the network’s flagship evening news program.
Reasons for Departure and Successor
Holt’s decision to leave the anchor chair is reportedly driven by his desire to dedicate his full attention to Dateline NBC. He has been a principal anchor for Dateline since 2011 and expressed excitement about “expanding his footprint” on the program and crafting in-depth stories. Holt stated that he wants to exercise “some different news muscles” and engage in longer-form storytelling that Dateline offers. Tom Llamas, who joined NBC in 2021 and currently hosts “Top Story with Tom Llamas” on NBC News NOW, will succeed Holt as the anchor of NBC Nightly News. Llamas will continue to host his program on the streaming platform in addition to his new role.
Timeline and Future Role
Lester Holt’s last day as the anchor of NBC Nightly News is set for May 30, 2025. Tom Llamas will take over the anchor desk on Monday, June 2, 2025. While Holt is stepping down from his nightly news duties, he will remain with NBC News in a full-time capacity as the anchor of Dateline NBC. He looks forward to focusing on creating more in-depth and longer-form content for the newsmagazine program. Holt has been the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News since June 2015, succeeding Brian Williams. He also anchored the weekend edition of the program for eight years prior to taking over the weekday broadcast.
