Broadcast news veteran and award-winning journalist Tom Cibrowksi has been tapped to lead CBS News as president and executive editor, reporting to Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Television Stations and CBS Media Ventures.
In this role, announced today, Cibrowski will oversee CBS News, including newsgathering, all units and shows.
He brings more than 30 years of experience in every corner of journalism and broadcast television. Throughout his career, he has honed a deep understanding of the news landscape, ensuring that stories are told with fairness, integrity and impact. This also marks a return to CBS News for Cibrowski, who was a broadcast producer for CBS News’ “The Early Show.”
“Tom brings a clear vision, fresh perspective and competitive edge that will serve us well here at CBS News,” said McMahon. “From bringing GMA to #1 to his vast international experience, I have no doubt he will lead CBS News to new heights. He will be instrumental to our mission to elevate the quality of our news coverage and strengthen our commitment to excellence.”
“Journalism and storytelling are what CBS News does the best,” Cibrowski said. “There is simply no one better. I’m beyond thrilled to be returning to this iconic and unmatched organization and can’t wait to hit the ground running.”
Cibrowski spent 25 years at ABC News in multiple leadership roles. He served as senior vice president of ABC News Programs, News Gathering and Special Events where he was responsible for global newsgathering, breaking news and content across all ABC News programs and platforms, including “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” “Nightline” and “20/20.”
At ABC, he rose through the “Good Morning America” ranks for over a decade. He served as senior executive producer of the broadcast when it took over the #1 morning show position from “Today” after 16 years, then described as a “once in a generation change.”
In those leadership positions, he oversaw coverage of the 2016 presidential election and election night, and worldwide breaking news events including the Royal weddings, the devastating earthquake in Haiti and the disappearance of Malaysian flight #17. He produced the historic interview with Robin Roberts and Barack Obama on gay marriage and President Donald Trump’s first interview as the 2016 Republican presidential nominee.
Earlier in his career, Cibrowski spent a decade covering war zones in Iraq and Kosovo and was on the scene for the downfall of dictators in Haiti and Indonesia. He had multiple tours in Baghdad before and during the Iraq war. He was with Diane Sawyer in Iraq immediately before the U.S.-Iraq war started in 2003 and returned with Robin Roberts to Fallujah six months after combat began. He also traveled to Bahrain and Kuwait with Charlie Gibson to produce a series about the generals leading the war effort.
Cibrowski is no stranger to CBS News. He was the broadcast producer for the “CBS Early Show” with Bryant Gumbel when the program transitioned to a dynamic street side studio. He was also responsible for the morning program’s coverage during the attacks on 9/11.
Cibrowski is currently president and general manager of KGO-TV, the Disney-owned television station in San Francisco. In his seven years there, he has maintained the station’s #1 position with all viewers and focused on modernizing and transforming the legacy linear brand to maximize relevancy and connection with multi-platform audiences.
He has received multiple Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for overall excellence for his work. He was also the Daytime Emmy Award winner for four years at “Good Morning America” and won the George Foster Peabody Award for “Robin’s Journey,” the story of the top morning anchor’s recovery from a bone marrow transplant.
