Sean McManus Elevated to Chairman of CBS Sports, Departs CBS News

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus

CBS has announced a shuffle up at the top of its executive team. Sean McManus, who has served as president of CBS News and Sports since 2005, will now focus exclusively on sports operations, stepping down from his CBS News post to become chairman of CBS Sports.

Heading up the news division will be 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager, who has been named Chairman of CBS News. In addition, David Rhodes, former head of U.S. Television for Bloomberg, will serve as President of CBS News.

“Sports continues to grow into an ever-more important asset to CBS,” says Leslie Moonves, President and CEO of CBS Corp. “As we expand our operations at CBS Sports, CBS College Sports Network, and in other parts of our company as well, we will require Sean’s uncommon depth of knowledge of the business, his deal-making acumen and his unique and positive relationships throughout the world of sports to keep CBS on top of that game.”

Sean McManus was named President, CBS Sports, in November 1996 and President, CBS News, in October 2005.  He is only the second person in the industry to hold both division titles simultaneously; Roone Arledge held both at ABC from 1977-86.