CBS News has tapped Norah O’Donnell’s longtime producer Adam Verdugo to be the new executive producer of The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell. He will replace Al Ortiz, who held the interim ep title and is retiring from CBS News next month.
Verdugo, who currently serves as the executive story editor of The CBS Evening News, will lead the broadcast from Washington, D.C. beginning June 13.
He becomes the newscast’s first permanent executive producer since Jay Shaylor, who left CBS News in July 2021 after fewer than two years on the job.
Verdugo has worked closely with O’Donnell for many years, going back to 2007 when both were at NBC News. They have worked in lockstep in O’Donnell’s coverage of breaking news events, presidential election nights, the Jan. 6 insurrection and interviews with newsmakers in sports, entertainment, business and politics, including Presidents Biden, George W. Bush and Vice President Pence. In addition to CBS Evening News, Verdugo has worked closely with O’Donnell on her reporting for 60 Minutes and has led the CBS News streaming program Person to Person with Norah O’Donnell.
“Adam is an experienced, innovative leader with a proven track record of producing a wide-range of significant events and interviews for CBS News’ weekday programs as well as long form pieces and the reboot of Edward R. Murrow’s iconic franchise ‘Person to Person’ for the CBS News Streaming Network,” CBS News chief Neeraj Khemlani said in a statement. “As we move into the midterms, his extensive experience booking and producing political coverage over the last decade will also be invaluable in continuing the Evening News’ momentum.”
Verdugo’s time at CBS News spans three CBS News bureaus, managing teams in New York, Los Angeles and Washington. He joined CBS in 2013 as a senior producer for CBS This Morning based in Los Angeles, before moving to New York in 2017 to oversee talent bookings.
Verdugo served as a senior producer on Meet the Press before jumping to CBS.
“On the road, at an interview, and during every broadcast, Adam is the trusted colleague you want by your side. He is a calm and steady leader with keen journalistic instincts,” O’Donnell said in a statement. “His editorial vision will help the CBS Evening News continue to excel and expand the reach of our impactful storytelling.”