Lester Holt’s “NBC Nightly News” replacement has been named.
Tom Llamas, who has been at NBC since 2021, will take over the prestigious news anchor role.
The longtime journalist, 45, confirmed he is taking on the new position by reposting an NBC article announcing the news.
“Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity — all characteristics that have long been trademarks of ‘NBC Nightly News,’” NBC News executive vice president of programming Janelle Rodriguez wrote to staff Wednesday, per the outlet.
“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.”
Llamas, for his part, said in a statement that anchoring “Nightly News” is a “profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility.”
“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,” he added.
Llamas’ new gig is a landmark one, as he is the first Latino journalist to host the weeknight edition of “Nightly News.” Prior to NBC, he worked at ABC News from 2014 to 2021.
He has won multiple Emmy awards and two Edward R. Murrow awards.
Holt, 65, anchored “Nightly News” for a decade. In February, he announced his departure, saying, “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,” the renowned journalist added at the time.
“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.”
After Wednesday’s announcement, Holt reportedly told his former NBC colleagues on a call that “Nightly News” was “not only one of the great jobs” but “it’s a great staff” that LLamas is inheriting.
He concluded, “I know you all will give him your 100% support as you make the transition.”
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