New Appointment Adds Fuel To Chaos At CBS News

Cibrowski and McMahon

In a surprising move amid swirling rumors of leadership upheaval, CBS News has tapped Tom Cibrowski, a seasoned television veteran with an impressive 25-year tenure at ABC News, as its new No. 2 executive. 

Cibrowski steps into the role of president and executive editor, succeeding Adrienne Roark, who recently departed as CBS News president of newsgathering to join Tegna earlier this month. The appointment, announced on Thursday by the network’s embattled president and CEO, Wendy McMahon, comes at a tumultuous time for the Tiffany Network, with insiders speculating that McMahon herself may be on the brink of an unceremonious exit.

Cibrowski’s appointment marks a significant shift for CBS News. Unlike Roark, whose focus was primarily on newsgathering, Cibrowski’s expanded portfolio encompasses oversight of all CBS News programs, as well as the network’s newsgathering and reporting divisions. His extensive experience includes a standout stint as executive producer of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” where he orchestrated the show’s ascent past NBC’s “Today” in the fiercely competitive morning ratings race. 

In a memo to staff, McMahon praised Cibrowski’s credentials, writing, “Everything he does is marked by a deep understanding of the news landscape, and he is committed to telling stories with impact, integrity, and fairness.” A former ABC colleague echoed this sentiment, describing him as “a pro, solid, stable, no mistakes.” Another source, familiar with both McMahon and Cibrowski from their overlapping time at ABC, suggested that McMahon “trusts him” and may see him as a key ally in her efforts to stabilize CBS News—and perhaps salvage her own precarious position.

McMahon’s leadership has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, fueled by a series of high-profile missteps that have rattled the network. 

Chief among them is the controversial overhaul of “CBS Evening News,” where she replaced veteran anchor Norah O’Donnell with lesser-known, cost-effective co-anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. The revamped format, which pivoted away from traditional news delivery to emphasize longer, “60 Minutes-style” features, has proven a resounding failure. Ratings have plummeted week after week, and the show’s producers have struggled to adapt during major breaking news events, leaving the broadcast noticeably off-balance. In response to the backlash, the network has attempted a course correction, rejiggering the program to prioritize breaking news and analysis—a move that has done little to stem the tide of criticism.

The chaos at CBS News unfolds against the backdrop of a looming merger between Paramount Global, the network’s parent company, and Skydance Media, a deal expected to close this year. 

However, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said that the agency’s review of the proposed Skydance-Paramount Global merger is far from finished.

The merger, which promises sweeping layoffs and a dramatic restructuring of Paramount—home to CBS, MTV, and Showtime—has only heightened the uncertainty surrounding McMahon’s future. Sources close to the negotiations told The NY Post that Skydance CEO David Ellison and Jeff Shell, the former NBCUniversal CEO poised to assume the presidency of the merged entity, harbor serious reservations about McMahon’s leadership. “The Ellison-Skydance contingent has not been impressed by her strategy or leadership ability,” one insider revealed last week.

Within CBS, the appointment of Cibrowski is widely viewed as a desperate gambit by McMahon to shore up her faltering regime. Speculation about her fate has reached a fever pitch, with some insiders suggesting she could be ousted within weeks.  “There’s no way she survives,” a source close to Skydance and Shell told The Post on Thursday, branding her tenure “a disaster.” The insider went further, predicting, “I don’t think she lasts more than a month.”