David Rhodes to Step Down as CBS News President, With Susan Zirinsky to Take Over
SHAKEUP
Longtime producer Susan Zirinsky to become first woman to lead news division.
Fred Prouser/Reuters
CBS News President David Rhodes announced Sunday that he’ll be leaving the network and “handing the reins” over to longtime producer Susan Zirinsky. The shakeup is expected to take effect in March with an official announcement to be made Monday morning, the Los Angeles Times reports. Zirinsky, who will become the first woman to lead the news division, had been a top contender to become executive producer of 60 Minutes after Jeff Fager was ousted late last year amid a sexual-harassment scandal that also saw former CEO Leslie Moonves axed. CBS Corp. Acting Chief Executive Joseph Ianniello told the Times he wanted to give Zirinsky a larger role at the network after Rhodes made clear he was ready to depart. “Susan can add more value creatively on some of our other broadcasts and have an impact that’s much greater on the entire organization,” Ianniello was quoted as saying.
