Wendy McMahon is stepping down as president and CEO of CBS News, Stations, and CBS Media Ventures, ending a turbulent tenure marked by internal unrest, leadership shakeups, and mounting pressure tied to a looming corporate merger.
In a message sent to staff, McMahon described her exit as a necessary step after reaching an impasse with network leadership over the company’s direction.
“Today, I am stepping down from my position,” McMahon wrote. “This has been one of the most meaningful chapters in my career … Leading this extraordinary organization has been the honor of a lifetime because I got to work alongside all of you.”
While expressing pride in CBS’s journalistic mission, McMahon acknowledged recent difficulties. “The past few months have been challenging,” she wrote. “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.”
She noted she had spent recent months stabilizing the network and ensuring the “right leaders are in place,” before offering thanks to CBS staff and to her successor, George Cheeks, for the opportunity.
“You are in incredibly good hands with Tom, Jennifer, John, Matt and Robert,” McMahon said. “They are phenomenal leaders … I have no doubt they will continue to set the standard.”
McMahon’s tenure as CEO of CBS News was marked by ambitious changes, mounting internal discontent, and escalating external pressures.
Appointed to the top job in 2023 following the ouster of Neeraj Khemlani, McMahon quickly moved to centralize the news division and streamline operations by leaning heavily on CBS’s network of local stations.
One of her most visible — and now controversial — decisions involved relocating “CBS Mornings” to a state-of-the-art studio in Times Square in 2021, a project initially touted as a symbol of innovation but later criticized for its sterile atmosphere and high cost.
By 2024, the morning show had hit a ratings nadir, drawing under 1.87 million viewers — a record low since its relaunch.
Facing pressure to slash costs amid Paramount Global’s $500 million austerity drive ahead of its proposed merger with Skydance Media, McMahon orchestrated a move to vacate the Times Square studio and relocate the show to CBS’s older, more modest West 57th Street facility.
The decision, seen by some staffers as a regression, underscored mounting frustrations over McMahon’s leadership. Insiders described the newsroom climate as “one of fear,” with employees hesitant to speak out amid waves of cost-cutting and executive shakeups.
The backlash intensified after McMahon and editorial chief Adrienne Roark reprimanded anchor Tony Dokoupil for a contentious interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates, sparking concerns over editorial freedom and bias. Roark, a McMahon ally, later announced her departure ahead of the expected Skydance deal, with sources citing a lack of job security and dissatisfaction with her leadership role.
Meanwhile, CBS was also embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle with President Trump, who accused the network of election interference tied to a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. Trump’s team has signaled demands for a settlement ranging from $100 million to $150 million — a staggering sum that dwarfs recent media payouts from networks like ABC and Meta.
The controversy has drawn regulatory scrutiny from the FCC, further complicating Paramount’s merger ambitions.
All of this unfolded under McMahon’s watch, leading insiders to speculate for months that her job was in jeopardy.
“She’s been on shaky ground for a while,” one person familiar with the internal dynamics told The Post.
Her departure comes amid mounting doubt over the direction of CBS News and deep uncertainty about its future leadership structure as the network braces for a potential change in ownership.
Additional reporting by Ariel Zilber
