CBS News chief Wendy McMahon revamps management team after controversial executive exits

CBS News chief Wendy McMahon on Monday installed a loyal lieutenant to replace controversial executive Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews in an effort to improve morale and revive the faltering network.

Adrienne Roark will take over as president of editorial and news gathering for CBS News and Stations as part of a broader management shakeup, according to McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures.

Roark will take over many of the responsibilities held by Ciprian-Matthews, who was fired last month as president of CBS News after allegedly resisting McMahon’s cost-cutting measures, The Post reported.

The promotion follows last week’s announcement that CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell will leave the show after the election and that the last-place news program will undergo a massive overhaul.

Roark, the former president of content development and integration, will also continue to oversee WCBS and WLNY in New York, as well as WBZ and WSBK in Boston, among her other duties.

McMahon also elevated Jennifer Mitchell to the role of president of stations and digital for CBS News and Stations.

Ciprian-Matthews — who faced allegations of blocking senior investigative reporter Catherine Herridge from aggressively covering the Hunter Biden saga before the award-winning journalist was fired in May — remains at the network during the election as a senior editorial adviser.

But with the Dominican-born executive out of the way, McMahon can execute on her vision for improving the network, sources said.

“These are interesting changes that we hope will make CBS more competitive and improve morale during some difficult times,” a CBS insider told The Post.

“It consolidates the news division,” added a second CBS source. “It’s good because it’s her team, her vision, there will be no disruption.”

Both Roark and Mitchell will continue to report to McMahon, who will oversee all CBS News network broadcasts, working with the shows’ executive producers “to continue to maximize our brands to their full potential on-air and wider,” McMahon said.

The Post reached out to CBS News and McMahon for comment.

Roark also announced several changes to her team, which include the promotion of Wendy Fisher, a well-known former ABC News anchor, to the role of senior vice president of editorial. She will work closely with Terri Stewart, senior vice president of news gathering. Both will report to Roark.

Meanwhile, CBS News Race and Culture Unit executive producer Alvin Patrick will expand his responsibilities to include specials and documentaries for platforms across CBS News, Stations and Media Ventures. He will report to McMahon.

The moves follow the stunning announcement that O’Donnell will step down from the anchor chair after five years and be replaced by the less-hyped duo of veteran CBS News reporter John Dickerson and WCBS-TV anchor Maurice DuBois.

The show will also return to New York from its current set in Washington, D.C., and will feature a new format that will be helmed by “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who hopes to weave in a deeper narrative. .

All this comes as CBS parent Paramount Global is expected to put down $500 million ahead of its potential merger with Skydance Media.

The deal, which is expected to close by September 2025, gives McMahon a short runway to make big strides in ratings — CBS News’ flagship shows “CBS Evening News” and “CBS Mornings” are in last place — and in reducing costs.

“She doesn’t have a long leash with the Skydance merger coming up,” said the second CBS source. “She’s got to make it so she can move the needle.”