Norah O'Donnell will step down as anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News after the upcoming presidential election, transitioning to a senior correspondent role focused on high-profile interviews.

Having anchored CBS Evening News since 2019, O'Donnell has spent a total of 12 years at CBS News, during which she has conducted notable interviews with prominent figures such as Pope Francis and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.

O'Donnell will remain with CBS Evening News through the presidential race, leading coverage on key events including the Democratic National Convention and Election Night.

Wendy McMahon, CBS News President, praised O'Donnell's ability to secure significant interviews and stories that resonate with the cultural zeitgeist.

The CBS Evening News has recently received an Emmy nomination for outstanding live news program, a testament to the team's accomplishments during O'Donnell's tenure.

In a memo to her colleagues, O'Donnell expressed pride in the team's achievements, including winning Emmy, Murrow, and DuPont awards, and highlighted her commitment to storytelling.

O'Donnell's transition is part of broader changes at CBS News, which has recently merged its national newsgathering operation with local TV stations under McMahon's leadership.

Despite typically finishing third in evening news ratings, O'Donnell's broadcast has garnered around 5 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched weekly programs.

While no successor for O'Donnell has been named yet, CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon indicated that plans for the newscast would be announced soon.

O'Donnell's decision comes amid significant changes at CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, which is merging with Skydance Media for $8 billion.

This upcoming presidential election will mark O'Donnell's seventh as a journalist, highlighting a significant milestone in her career.