After Lester Holt announced his exit from NBC Nightly News, several of his colleagues from the network expressed their gratitude for all he has done, including Dylan Dreyer.
Dylan, 43, shared a photo on Instagram of herself sitting with Lester, 65, with a caption about working with him.
“You’d think the most nerve-wracking day of my career was my first day on air at Weekend Today. But @lesterholtnbc made me feel so comfortable from day 1,” the meteorologist captioned the post. “It has been a true honor to work and grow along side him from then, to hurricane coverage, to @nbcnightlynews, to fun experiments on @nightlykids A true professional, an incredible interviewer and anchor, a friend. Congratulations on this next phase of your inspirational career Lester!!”
Lester announced he would be stepping away from NBC Nightly News in the summer in a memo to NBC staffers on Monday, February 24. The longtime broadcaster made the decision to focus his full attention on Dateline once he leaves Nightly News.
He has worked on Dateline since 2011 and said he is “excited” to dive headfirst into the show full time at this next stage in his career.
“I’m excited to report I will be continuing as anchor of Dateline NBC, but for the first time in a fulltime capacity whereby I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about,” Lester said.
Following the announcement, Janelle Rodriguez, EVP, Programming, NBC News, said, “Because of Lester’s steady and thoughtful leadership, Nightly News has sustained its perch as a trusted and top news destination for millions of viewers across America. He has led the network during some of the country’s most fraught and challenging times in the past decade, most notably during the early days of the pandemic when Lester’s voice was a source of comfort each night for so many. He’s taken viewers to the frontlines of every major story and sat down with world leaders, skillfully eliciting answers on consequential issues.”
“Quite simply, Lester is the beating heart of this news organization,” she continued. “He’s earned deep respect and reverence from our newsroom, industry colleagues and, most importantly, viewers. What’s equally remarkable is how Lester has masterfully filled this esteemed role with extraordinary grace and humility. He’s proven time and time again why he stands among the great legends of broadcast news.”
Dylan wasn’t the only Today star who posted on Instagram to voice their support for Lester’s decision. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb both reflected on working with him, as well as Craig Melvin.
“From the very beginning @lesterholtnbc has been the gold standard at the peacock…on camera and off,” Craig, 45, shared. “He’s been on the frontlines to so much history and taken so many of us along. He’s always been fair, even, and never made it about him. His steady style and even temperament every night will be sorely missed. Off camera…he’s beloved because he’s so kind, especially to kids. Just ask my son. Enjoy the well deserved lighter workload my friend.”
