CBS News President Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews to Exit, Shifts to Advisor Role Through 2024 Election

CBS News president Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews will exit the company, after a year running the broadcast news division.

The executive will shift to a role as a senior editorial adviser later this month, helping to oversee coverage of the 2024 presidential election, with plans to exit completely after that.

Ciprian-Matthews announced the decision in a note to staff Wednesday, and a source says she immediately went on to lead the 9 a.m. editorial call to discuss the 2024 election.

In her note, Ciprian-Matthews indicated that looming cost cutting at Paramount is a big reason for her exit.

“Some may be asking why I’m announcing this now,” she wrote. “We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made. I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive these decisions. I’ve always leaned into my integrity and my values and I felt it was important to be transparent at this juncture about my plans.”

Wendy McMahon, who leads the CBS News and Stations group, will likely be the one responsible for figuring out where the division needs to cut back, and where synergies can be found.

McMahon gained direct oversight of CBS News and CBS’ syndication business last August, after co-leading the division alongside Neeraj Khamlani. Ciprian-Matthews was elevated to CBS News president at the same time.

However, Paramount’s trio of CEOs are set to undergo cost cutting, to the tune of $500 million, despite a deal to sell the company to Skydance. CBS News it appears will not be exempt from those efforts.

With the exit of Ciprian-Matthews, no broadcast news division will have its own president. ABC News president Kim Godwin left in May, while NBC News has been operating with a trio of executives reporting to Cesar Conde, who runs the News, Telemundo and stations group at NBCUniversal.

You can read Ciprian-Matthews’ note, below.

Hello everyone,

No journalist wants to ‘be’ the news, especially me. But today, I have some news of my own to share. After much consideration, I’ve decided this is the right time to step away from my current role at CBS News and begin to write my next chapter. George and Wendy understand how difficult a decision this has been. They have supported me through this process and for that I am very grateful. At the end of the month, I’ll be transitioning to a new role. I have gladly agreed to stay on through the election as a senior editorial adviser to CBS News, given the historical significance of this election and the current political moment.

Some may be asking why I’m announcing this now. We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made. I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive these decisions. I’ve always leaned into my integrity and my values and I felt it was important to be transparent at this juncture about my plans.

We all know how demanding our jobs are, but rest assured the work we do matters. Your conviction, your enthusiasm and your love of journalism distinguishes CBS News and fills me with pride. Nothing happens here without each of you, and the dedication and passion of our teams is evident at every level – in every bureau and newsroom. Your commitment to factual reporting with context during challenging times, in our world and our country, is what inspires and encourages me about the future of journalism at CBS News.

Over the past four decades, from NPR and CNN to more than 30 years at CBS, I’ve been able to see much of the world, cover most of the major news events of our lifetimes, and, most of all, work with all of you, in the field, in bureaus, on shows, and from the front office. I am so thankful for each and every one of you and am filled with gratitude for what we have accomplished.  

You are the best in the industry, and it shows on every platform and in every story. I am forever honored to call CBS my News home….so now back to the News!

With all my respect,

Ingrid