CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon abruptly resigns, cites disagreements with company amid 'challenging' period
CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon announced Monday she was stepping down in another stunning move for the embattled company, Fox News Digital has confirmed.
Her exit follows that of longtime "60 Minutes" producer Bill Owens, who quit last month because he felt he'd lost journalistic independence amid an ongoing legal battle with President Donald Trump.
"Today, I am stepping down from my position as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures. It 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," McMahon wrote in a memo to staffers.
"At the same time, the past few months have been challenging," she continued. "It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward. It’s time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership."
McMahon’s departure comes as CBS parent company Paramount Global is in mediation with Trump's legal team, with hopes of settling a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS over its handling of a "60 Minutes" interview last year with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump has accused CBS of aiding his 2024 Democratic opponent through deceptive editing just weeks before the presidential election.
Many believe Paramount Global is hoping to settle the suit ahead of a planned merger with Skydance Media in hopes of preventing potential retribution by Trump's FCC, which has the authority to halt the multibillion-dollar transaction. Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, is reportedly in favor of settling with the president.
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Many media observers and CBS News staffers don't want CBS to settle the suit, which critics have called a hyperbolic reaction to a typical editing decision.
Last month, Owens abruptly quit, saying it had "become clear" he was no longer able to run the program the way he wanted.
McMahon, who follows Owens out the door, told staffers she has spent the "last few months shoring up our businesses and making sure the right leaders are in place" at CBS News.
"I have no doubt they will continue to set the standard," she wrote. "To our viewers: Thank you for your trust. You hold us accountable, and you remind is why this matters."
A CBS News staffer told Fox News Digital that McMahon took part in the network’s editorial call on Monday morning and didn’t mention her looming resignation.
CBS News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
McMahon was previously president of the ABC Owned Television Stations.
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