Tom Llamas will replace Lester Holt when he steps down as anchor of NBC Nightly News. Lester’s announcement to leave the program and focus on his role at Dateline shocked viewers, but the news network has praised Tom’s abilities and assured everyone that the show would be in good hands.
“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, told staffers. “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.”
As viewers get acquainted with Tom, we’ve rounded up five facts about him and his career below.
Tom has been with the news network since 2000 when he got his start in broadcasting. The Miami native worked with NBC’s Specials Unit before moving to MSNBC to cover politics until 2005. Over the next several years, Tom served as a reporter and anchor, having worked in Miami and New York, with NBC.
From 2014 to 2021, Tom did not work with NBC. Upon returning to his home network, the award-winning journalist became a national senior correspondent with NBC News and served as anchor of NBC News NOW. While focusing on politics, Tom got the chance to interview several world leaders, including Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In 2025, NBC gave Tom the anchor position at NBC Nightly News that Lester initially held.
