Tom Llamas Tapped to Replace Lester Holt as NBC Nightly News Anchor. What to Know About NBC’s Rising Star

Meredith Kile is a Digital News Writer-Editor at PEOPLE. She has been an entertainment and political journalist for more than a decade, previously working for Entertainment Tonight, VICE and Al Jazeera America.

Tom Llamas is taking over for Lester Holt as the new anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News.

The 45-year-old journalist joined NBC in 2021 and currently hosts Top Story with Tom Llamas on NBC News NOW. Llamas will continue to host the hour-long primetime streaming news program when he takes over for Holt, whose departure was announced on Feb. 24.

NBC Nightly News is the network’s flagship evening news program, airing seven days at week at 6:30 p.m. ET.

“Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity — all characteristics that have long been trademarks of NBC Nightly News,” said Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News’ executive vice president, in a press release announcing the news. “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.”

Holt, meanwhile, will be moving to Dateline as the full-time host. The turnover is expected to happen this summer.

“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.”

Below, five things to know about NBC journalist Tom Llamas, a fast-rising talent at the network.

Llamas was born and raised in Miami after his parents immigrated from Cuba. He attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami before graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism from Loyola University. He also completed a program at the University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies, which focused on Raul Castro and Cuban American voters.

After interning at a local Telemundo network, Llamas began his broadcasting career with NBC News and MSNBC 2000 to 2005. He moved to ABC News in 2014, serving as a substitute for David Muir on ABC World News Tonight before returning.

Llamas covered Republican candidates like Donald Trump and Jeb Bush during the 2016 presidential campaign. As a son of immigrants himself, he criticized the use of the term “anchor baby” and was later called a “sleaze” by Trump for questioning his finances.

Llamas and his wife, Jennifer, share three children and he documents some of their family fun on his Instagram page. Cute moments include a father-son outing to a New York Yankees game and a happy Halloween — where Llamas was a good sport as the Doc Brown to his son’s Marty McFly!

In addition to election and debate coverage, Llamas has reported from events around the world, including the New Orleans terror attack, the Israel-Hamas war, the invasion of Ukraine, the assassination attempt on President Trump in Pennsylvania, the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse, the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and numerous natural disasters.