NEW YORK, N.Y. () — NBC News’ award-winning journalist Tom Llamas will become the next anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, beginning this summer. The announcement came today. Llamas will also remain as the anchor of Top Story with Tom Llams on NBC News NOW weeknights.

“Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity — all characteristics that have long been trademarks of NBC Nightly News,” says Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News Executive Vice President, Programming. “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.”

Llamas began his 25-year career at NBC News. He rejoined the network in 2021 as an NBC News senior national correspondent and soon after became anchor of NBC News NOW’s Top Story, a one-hour primetime streaming newscast. Llams is also a regular fill-in anchor on NBC Nightly News and reports regularly on TODAY.

“Anchoring NBC Nightly News is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility. I look forward to working with the world class journalists at Nightly News and Top Story to bring viewers the most important stories every night,” says Llamas, adding, “Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time. Just like Lester I promise to be devoted to our viewers and dedicated to the truth.”

Llama will succeed Holt, who announced last week that he plans to step down in early summer, following a decade in the anchor chair at NBC Nightly News, to take on a dedicated full-time role at Dateline.