ESPN Hires CBS Sports Veteran to Run News Division

October 30, 2026 - 02:44

Adi Joseph is leaving CBS Sports for ESPN. Joseph announced on LinkedIn that he is departing CBS Sports after nine years to become ESPN's vice president of news. He will succeed David Kraft atop the network's newsgathering operation and starts on Monday.

The move puts a seasoned editorial leader in charge of ESPN's news coverage at a time when the network is balancing breaking news, investigative reporting, and daily coverage across multiple platforms. Joseph spent nearly a decade at CBS Sports, where he rose through the ranks and helped shape the outlet's news strategy. His experience running day to day news operations and managing teams of reporters and editors made him a natural candidate for the role.

At ESPN, Joseph will oversee newsgathering across television, digital, and streaming properties. The position is central to the network's ability to compete on stories that break outside of game coverage, including league business, labor issues, and off field developments. Kraft held the role before him and helped guide the division through a period of change in how sports news is consumed.

Joseph's start date gives him little time to settle in. The sports calendar is crowded with major events and ongoing storylines that demand quick and accurate reporting. Colleagues describe him as a steady hand who values strong sourcing and clear writing, qualities ESPN will need as it continues to invest in news coverage. His departure from CBS Sports leaves a gap there, though the network has not announced a replacement. For now, the focus is on what Joseph will bring to ESPN and how his leadership shapes the news division in the months ahead.