The head of CBS News stepped down Monday, marking the second high-profile departure from the organization within the past month as its parent company contends with a $20 billion lawsuit from President Donald Trump and an $8 billion merger.
Paramount Global co-CEO George Cheeks asked Wendy McMahon for her resignation Saturday, CNBC reported, citing people familiar with the matter. CBS did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment on CNBC's reporting.
McMahon said in a memo that her time atop the stalwart news brand has been "a privilege and joy" but that the past few months had been "challenging."
"It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward," McMahon, who had been with the network since 2021 and was CBS News CEO since 2023, wrote in a memo to staff members. "It’s time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership."
McMahon’s words echoed those of longtime "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens, who left in late April after he said the newsmagazine had lost its journalistic independence. His departure triggered an extraordinary on-air statement days later from "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley, who noted Paramount's ongoing attempts to complete a merger as he defended the show's editorial integrity.
Cheeks, in a separate memo Monday, did not address McMahon's comments on a path forward.
"On a personal note, I want to thank Wendy for her partnership over the past four years," Cheeks wrote. "Under her leadership, the competitive position and culture at our television stations have improved dramatically, and we’ve expanded local news significantly. Our streaming news platforms — national and local — are stronger and growing, with digital extensions now in place for several of our flagship CBS News broadcasts."
The tumult at CBS News comes as Paramount Global seeks to complete an $8 billion merger with media production group Skydance Media.
That merger requires federal approval — a situation that has led to ongoing internal tensions at CBS News. As it works to complete the merger, Paramount is seeking to settle a $20 billion lawsuit lodged by Trump over accusations that "60 Minutes" selectively edited a pre-election interview segment featuring his campaign rival, then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Experts have called the suit baseless — but Owens, the former "60 Minutes" executive producer, signaled that internal pressures from Paramount executives have become unsustainable.
“Having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,” Owens wrote in an outgoing memo widely reported by media outlets.
