Lester Holt Steps Down at ‘NBC Nightly News,’ Moves to ‘Dateline’ Full-Time

Lester Holt is stepping down after more than a decade behind the desk at NBC Nightly News. 

The news anchor’s departure was announced Monday, but he will remain at the nightly news program until the beginning of the summer. Holt, 65, has been with Nightly News since 2015 and also serves as its managing editor. Previously, he anchored the weekend editions of the news show. He also co-anchored NBC’s Weekend Today.

NBC has not announced who will replace Holt as Nightly News anchor. He took over the role from Brian Williams, who was suspended following controversy about his reporting on his experiences in Iraq.

While Holt is leaving NBC Nightly News, he is not leaving the network. He will assume a full-time position at Dateline, which he has anchored 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 in a note to staffers at both shows, NBC News reported. “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.”

Prior to joining NBC News in 2000, Holt spent more than a decade as an evening news anchor at Chicago’s CBS affiliate, WBBM. Holt’s son, Stefan Holt, has followed in his father’s footsteps and is currently an anchor at NBC 5 News in Chicago.

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