In a surprising move, CBS has named Wendy McMahon as the new president and chief executive officer of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures, expanding her previous role in the company. The announcement was made by CBS CEO George Cheeks, who praised McMahon's skills as an innovator and business operator. In her new position, McMahon will oversee all of CBS News' broadcast and streaming operations, as well as the network's local television stations, news streaming channels, and syndication programming. She will also be responsible for content licensing and national advertising sales. McMahon, who previously served as co-president of CBS News alongside Neeraj Khemlani, will continue to report to Cheeks.
The announcement comes just a day after the departure of Neeraj Khemlani, who was fired from CBS amid a series of complaints from employees. Khemlani's two-year reign at the network was marked by clashes with high-profile anchors and HR issues. Rumors of his exit began to circulate after reports of his alleged "bullying, rude" behavior surfaced. The Post's exclusive story on July 30 further fueled speculation about Khemlani's future at CBS. Despite being on a week-long family vacation in Europe, Khemlani had cleared his schedule for the week, indicating that something was amiss. The Post's report of his impending departure prompted CBS to move up its planned restructuring announcement.
In a memo to CBS News staffers, Khemlani announced his plans to begin a new stage of his career and expressed excitement about his future endeavors. He will now seek to develop content in a new multi-year, first-look deal with CBS. Cheeks confirmed Khemlani's departure in a memo to staff and mentioned that the two had been discussing his potential transition for some time. Wendy McMahon, Khemlani's co-president, is seen as the frontrunner to take over his responsibilities in running the News division. The restructuring is expected to include the appointment of new deputies who will report to McMahon.
Khemlani's departure comes after reports of his explosive temper and clashes with colleagues. He was said to have had a heated confrontation with the Chief Financial Officer during a budget meeting in April. Throughout his tenure, Khemlani faced immense pressure to deliver results from Cheeks. The HR complaints against him, which led to an internal investigation in 2022, focused on his behavior towards women and employees of color. Khemlani was reportedly reprimanded and required to undergo counseling on how to communicate with employees in a more respectful manner.
Despite the controversies surrounding Khemlani's tenure, Cheeks commended his efforts to drive revenue and put the division on a stronger path forward. Khemlani's cost-cutting measures were seen by some as a potential strategy to position CBS for a potential spin-off from its parent company, Paramount Global, as the company shifts its focus towards streaming. McMahon's appointment as the new head of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures is seen as a move towards further growth and innovation in the network's operations. McMahon, who joined CBS in 2021 from ABC, expressed her honor and excitement to lead such a revered organization and support the world's greatest journalists.
In her previous role overseeing CBS Television Stations, McMahon implemented significant changes to improve the quality of content, community service, and workplace culture. Under her leadership, the local stations achieved stronger competitive positions and increased viewership for their streaming channels. McMahon also expanded local news coverage in various markets and launched new morning news franchises. She established the CBS Local News Innovation Lab to develop data-driven investigations and solutions-oriented journalism, partnering with the network for broader coverage.
With her proven track record and dynamic leadership, McMahon's appointment is expected to bring a renewed sense of vision and momentum to CBS News, the local stations, and syndication franchises. Her expanded portfolio includes iconic news programs like "60 Minutes," "Face the Nation," "CBS Mornings," and "CBS Evening News." Additionally, as head of CBS Media Ventures, McMahon will oversee popular entertainment series such as "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune." The future of CBS News and its affiliated platforms looks promising under McMahon's leadership, as she continues to uphold the network's commitment to top-notch journalism and production.
