On Feb. 24, 2025, Lester Holt, the seasoned broadcaster who has served as the face of “NBC Nightly News” for a decade, declared that he is set to resign from his anchor role in the summer. The 65-year-old plans to dedicate his time solely to “Dateline NBC.”
In an internal memo, Holt expressed his pride for leading two of the most significant and successful television news programs in broadcasting history.
Breaking barriers in 2015, Holt became the first Black anchor of “NBC Nightly News.” He has been the chief anchor at “Dateline” since 2011, a role he will continue after leaving the nightly news desk.
Reflecting on his career journey in his message to staff, Holt shared that as a young radio reporter covering the police beat in San Francisco, California, he could not have foreseen how his career would evolve.
The Sacramento, California native joined NBC News in 2000, spending eight years as the anchor for the weekend edition of “Nightly News.” Holt took over the weeknight broadcast in 2015, following the removal of Brian Williams, who admitted to exaggerating his experiences during the Iraq War coverage.
Known for his signature sign-off, “Please take care of yourself and each other,” Holt’s calm demeanor during major national events, particularly in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a comforting presence for viewers.
Janelle Rodriguez, the Executive Vice President of Programming at NBC News, commended Holt’s leadership in a staff memo. She emphasized his role in making “Nightly News” a reliable source for millions of viewers, particularly during the trying times of the pandemic.
Rodriguez concluded by characterizing Holt as the heart of the news organization.
Holt’s impending departure is part of a significant reshuffle at NBC News, which has seen multiple high-profile departures recently. These include “Today” show co-host Hoda Kotb passing her duties to Craig Melvin and “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd’s full exit from the network.
Throughout his tenure, Holt has conducted numerous high-profile interviews, including a memorable 2021 conversation with then-Vice President Kamala Harris about her lack of visits to the Southern border, which grabbed headlines at the time.
In 2021, while accepting the Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism, Holt shook the journalism world by suggesting a need to reconsider traditional media balance notions.
He expressed his belief that fairness is overrated and countered the idea that both sides should always be given equal weight. He argued that this approach doesn’t align with current realities, using the setting of the sun in the West as an example that doesn’t require counterarguments.
Holt further elucidated that not giving equal time to unsupported arguments is not a failure of journalistic responsibility but rather its fulfillment.
Prior to joining NBC News, Holt’s career included an internship at KCRA, NBC’s local affiliate in Sacramento, California. He attended Cordova High School in the Sacramento area and started his higher education at Sacramento State University before leaving to pursue his broadcasting career, which included stops in New York City, Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois.
Excited about expanding his role at “Dateline,” Holt conveyed in his memo that he plans to delve into subjects that he deeply cares about. He will continue to anchor “NBC Nightly News” until early summer of 2025, with exact dates to be announced later.
While NBC has yet to name Holt’s successor for the “Nightly News” anchor chair, several potential replacements, including NBC correspondent Tom Llamas, Hallie Jackson, and Jose Diaz-Balart, have been speculated.
Under Holt’s guidance, “NBC Nightly News” has secured its spot as the United States’ second-most-watched evening news broadcast, with ABC’s “World News Tonight” leading in ratings.