CBS News announced today that chairman Jeff Fager has decided to leave that post. He will remain in the CBS News family though, since he extended his contract as executive producer of 60 Minutes through 2019.
Fager will officially step down on Jan. 1, 2015. David Rhodes, who became CBS News President in 2011, will become the sole leader of the entire CBS News division.
In his announcement, Fager said that he and CBS CEO Les Moonves had agreed that eventually he would return to 60 Minutes full-time “when the time was right.” With their new CBSN news streaming app launched, he has decided that now’s the right time.
“I am confident that this record of achievement will only get better with David Rhodes, my friend and partner in all of this, continuing as president,” Fager said. “I hired him almost four years ago with this moment in mind, and he has exceeded all expectations.”
“We would not be in such a strong position today were it not for Jeff’s leadership and his willingness four years ago to supplement his role at 60 MINUTES with the duties of chairman as David integrated himself into CBS News,” Moonves said. He also express confidence in Rhodes to bring CBS News to “even greater heights.”