Mary Hager, CBS News Politics and ‘Face the Nation’ Guru, to Retire

Mary Hager, the longtime political-news guru and behind-the-scenes force at CBS News and its Sunday public-affairs program, “Face the Nation,” will retire from the program in January, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Hager informed colleagues at CBS News of her decision on Wednesday, this person says, in order to give the Skydance news division time to search for a replacement. There is no obvious successor for Hager in her producer role at “Nation” at this time.

CBS News declined to make executives available for comment. The media-industry newsletter Status previously reported on her decision. Hager could not be reached for immediate comment.