Who is Susan Zirinsky? First Female Head of CBS News Appointed in Aftermath of Charlie Rose Sex Scandal

Susan Zirinsky will replace David Rhodes as the president of CBS News in March, the first time the network has appointed a woman to the position.

Rhodes announced he was stepping down in a tweet late Sunday.

"It's been eight incredible years since I joined @CBS. I'm pleased [to] announce that I'll soon be handing the reins @CBSNews to Susan Zirinsky, our Senior Executive Producer," tweeted Rhodes.

Acting CBS CEO Joe Ianniello announced the change in an email to CBS News staff.

"The media is intensely scrutinized every day in this country, but what matters most is that we hold ourselves to the highest standards possible," he wrote in the email obtained by Variety. "With this in mind, we called upon Susan and look forward to the next chapter for CBS News. In the coming weeks, Susan will be determining the needs of the organization and her executive team."

In a follow-up statement, he praised Zirinsky—who has been with CBS News for 46 years.

"Susan has touched virtually every division and every CBS News broadcast over the decades she's worked here," he wrote.

He said that Rhodes would be stepping down on March 1, and would assume the role of senior adviser to CBS Corp.

Zirinsky began her career at CBS two weeks after the 1972 Watergate break-in, and has gone on to produce a wide range of programs in both its news and entertainment divisions. She currently works as a senior executive producer.

She inspired the character played by Holly Hunter in the 1987 movie Broadcast News, acting as a consultant on the film.

In a statement, Zirinsky described her ambitions for CBS News:

"I have been honored to work closely throughout my career with great CBS News journalists," Zirinsky said in a statement. "This may be a new role, but the mission is the same: Deliver quality, in-depth journalism and engaging storytelling. CBS News has an incredible legacy to build on. The public's interest today for news and information is intense, and CBS News is uniquely positioned to expand its reach."

The network has been rocked in recent months by allegations of sexual harassment against senior executives, whom accusers alleged were shielded by a sexist workplace culture.

Veteran 60 Minutes correspondent and CBS This Morning co-host Charlie Rose was sacked in November 2017, after eight women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment.

Rose has denied accusations of wrongdoing.

And in June 2018, The New Yorker published two allegations of sexual assault against CBS CEO Les Moonves, who was forced out in September to be replaced by Ianniello on an interim basis.

Moonves has denied the accusations, while conceding some "regrets" about his conduct.

Jeff Fager—a 60 Minutes executive producer—was also fired, after sending a threatening email to a CBS reporter investigating sexual misconduct allegations against him.