Lester Holt’s Sudden Exit: Who’s Taking Over NBC Nightly News?

Lester Holt has officially stepped down as anchor of NBC Nightly News after a decade at the desk, delivering his final broadcast on May 30. Holt, 66, announced earlier this year that he would be leaving the anchor chair but not retiring from journalism. Instead, he’s shifting to a full-time role at NBC’s Dateline, where he plans to focus on long-form reporting and stories he’s passionate about.

Holt explained his decision as a personal one, stating it was simply “time” to step away from the nightly anchor role after years. He emphasized that he still has energy for journalism and wanted more flexibility to pursue in-depth reporting, rather than a fixed nightly schedule.

Tom Llamas, previously a weekend anchor and correspondent, has been named Holt’s replacement. Llamas officially takes over the NBC Nightly News anchor desk starting June, bringing his own experience and style to the network’s flagship newscast.

Holt’s departure marks the end of an era for NBC, but viewers can expect to see him regularly on Dateline as he continues his reporting career in a new capacity.