CBS News has appointed Tanya Simon as the new executive producer of ’60 Minutes,’ following the resignation of her predecessor, Bill Owens. Simon, a 25-year veteran of the show and daughter of the late CBS News correspondent Bob Simon, is only the fourth person to hold this role in the show’s decades-long history and the first woman to do so. In a press release, CBS News President and executive editor Tom Cibrowski praised Simon’s leadership, saying she understands what makes ’60 Minutes’ tick and is committed to delivering impactful and entertaining stories. Simon expressed her excitement about leading the show, emphasizing her dedication to maintaining the high standards of investigative journalism that ’60 Minutes’ is known for.
The appointment of Simon follows a major settlement between Paramount Global and former President Donald Trump, which concluded a legal battle over the handling of a contentious interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The interview became a focal point of Trump’s lawsuit against CBS News, which was settled earlier this month. While CBS News did not issue any public statement of regret, the network did adopt a new editorial policy requiring the release of all raw transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates. The settlement sparked fierce criticism from liberal critics who accused Paramount of compromising editorial integrity in favor of appeasing Trump. The tensions further escalated when CBS News announced the cancellation of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ in May 2026, which the network stated was a financial decision.
Simon’s appointment has been widely welcomed within CBS News, with sources indicating that the network is eager to have a leader who can guide the show toward its founding principles. The move is seen as a positive signal for the future of ’60 Minutes,’ especially as the network seeks to navigate the challenges posed by the changing media landscape and the ongoing legal and political pressures. Despite the ongoing challenges, the network remains committed to delivering high-quality journalism that resonates with a broad audience.