Norah O’Donnell Replaces Erica Hill, Will Be New Co-Host On ‘CBS This Morning’

Norah O’Donnell, CBS News chief White House correspondent, has been named the new co-host of “CBS This Morning,” and will replace current co-host Erica Hill.

The change was announced on Thursday by CBS News Chairman and “60 Minutes” Executive Producer Jeff Fager, as well as CBS News President David Rhodes, reports CBS News.

Fager stated of the new appointment, which will allow O’Donnell to join co-hosts Charlie Rose and Gayle King this fall, that:

“This is a very exciting development for our morning program and for all of CBS News. Norah is an accomplished reporter with all the skills for the job. She’s a hard worker who knows her story and, as she has shown time after time at the White House, she can think on her feet on live television.”

Rhodes added that:

“Norah thrives on the kind of original reporting and newsmaker interviews that are the hallmark of CBS News and ‘CBS This Morning.” She is the perfect addition to the best morning news program on television.”

Chris Licht, vice president, programming, CBS News, and executive producer, “CBS This Morning,” added that:

“Norah has earned the respect of global newsmakers as a tough but fair reporter. Adding her to the team is part of our ongoing process of improving and building on the solid foundation that already exists at “CBS This Morning.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, Norah O’Donnell came to CBS from NBC News in June 2011, and was one of Fager’s first huge outside hires. Along with her work at the White House, O’Donnell is also Bob Shieffer’s principal substitute on “Face the Nation.”

O’Donnell will be starting her new job after the DNC and RNC conventions. Fager stated that the White House correspondent’s hiring in no way indicates any doubts about the show’s direction. He explained:

“Just the opposite. We’re really confident about what we’re doing. We believe it’s the right thing to do for CBS News. It’s what our identity is about. It’s a high-quality broadcast that not only covers important stories well but also interesting stories, which is one of our trademarks. We love it. We just feel like this is a chance to make it even better.”