Tom Llamas will anchor “NBC Nightly News” beginning this summer, replacing Lester Holt, who announced last month that he was stepping down from the program after a decade anchoring it.
Llamas will also keep his role as anchor of “Top Story with Tom Llamas” on NBC News NOW each weeknight.
“Anchoring “NBC Nightly News” is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility,” Llamas said in a news release. “I look forward to working with the world class journalists at ‘Nightly News’ and ’Top Story′ to bring viewers the most important stories every night.”
Llamas called Holt, who is stepping down to go full time at NBC’s “Dateline,” a “great man” and “one of the most trusted broadcasters.” Llamas said he will be “devoted” to viewers and “dedicated to the truth,” “just like” Holt.
Llamas began his career with NBC News 25 years ago. He rejoined NBC News in 2021 as a senior national correspondent. He is a regular fill-in anchor on “NBC Nightly News” and a reporter on “Today.” Previously, he worked as ABC’s chief national affairs correspondent and anchored the weekend editions of ABC’s “World News Tonight.”
On Feb. 24, Holt sent a letter to his colleagues announcing his departure from “NBC Nightly News.” The 65-year-old called his long career “an amazing ride” and said he is “thrilled” to shift to “Dateline” full-time and work on subjects he cares “deeply” about.
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Janelle Rodriguez, the executive vice president of NBC News and programming, said in a news release that Llamas, 45, has introduced NBC News to a “new generation of viewers.”
“Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity—all characteristics that have long been trademarks of ‘NBC Nightly News,‘” Rodriguez said. “Additionally, he’s been instrumental in growing ‘NBC News NOW’ into the leading streaming news network, helping to introduce NBC News to a new generation of viewers.”