Matt Frucci will take the reins of “NBC Nightly News” as its new executive producer, a change that typically comes whenever a signature news programs hands duties to a new anchor. Tom Llamas took the reins of the program from Lester Holt in June.
Frucci, who had been executive producer of “Top Story,” a show Llamas also anchors that streams on the NBC News Now service, will continue his duties there, according to Janelle Rodriguez, executive vice president of programming for NBC News. He will take a position that had previously been held by Meghan Rafferty, who left the role for a position at Versant as vice president of news standards. Versant, the parent of MSNBC and CNBC, will be spun off from NBCUniversal as soon as the end of 2025.
“Matt knows ‘Nightly’ inside and out. As EP of the weekend editions for more than six years, he led the show to multiple season wins,” Rodriguez told staffers in a memo on Monday. “He has also served as EP for countless NBC News primetime specials and breaking news coverage, including the Emmy-winning reporting of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.”
Frucci joined NBC News in 2016. He had previously worked at CNN, where he helped develop “The Lead with Jake Tapper” and launch an edition of CNN’s morning show, then known as “New Day.” Frucci began his career as a desk assistant at ABC News, and would spend nearly a decade at the Disney-backed outlet.
Ben Mayer will continue as “Nightly’s” senior broadcast producer.
Frucci is expected to start his new duties on October 6.
