CBS NEWS NAMES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND FILMMAKER NICK BILTON EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "60 MINUTES"

Nick Bilton, investigative journalist, best-selling author and filmmaker, has been named executive producer of 60 MINUTES, CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss and CBS News president Tom Cibrowski announced today.

Bilton brings over two decades of journalism experience to the role. At The New York Times, he covered how technology upended the world. He also contributed to features and investigative coverage at Vanity Fair. Beyond print journalism, Bilton has written two bestselling books on the digital revolution, hosted widely followed interview and video podcasts series and directed, written and produced multiple acclaimed news documentaries including "The Inventor," "Fake Famous" and "Biggest Heist Ever."

"Nick is one of the most entrepreneurial journalists of our time and the perfect leader for one of the most entrepreneurial news brands of all time," said Weiss. "We have huge ambition for 60 MINUTES to reach new heights through deep, revelatory journalism that breaks news, exposes wrongdoing, widens public understanding and forces accountability from every institution and every center of power. Nick shares this mission and will bring his deep investigative experience and understanding of the technological moment we're in to 60 MINUTES so that its important journalism comes to life for all audiences."

"Hiring Nick represents a deliberate vision for 60 MINUTES to go beyond an hour on Sunday evenings to become a 360-degree product that reaches audiences wherever they consume information," added Cibrowski. "Our ambition is to do hard-hitting journalism that respects our existing audience, brings in new audiences and enables viewers to proactively devote their attention to our work across every platform and medium."

Bilton's investigative reporting has had a major impact on policy, industry and public accountability. His columns and features for The New York Times and Vanity Fair led to investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and Congress. A series of stories he wrote questioning the FAA's longstanding ban on electronics during takeoff and landing led the agency to overturn its policy. His investigation on Twitter's deceptive user engagement metrics led to an $800 million class-action settlement against the company. When Twitter attempted to compel him to testify, Bilton fought and won a First Amendment lawsuit to protect his sources.

"It is an extraordinary honor to lead the next chapter of 60 MINUTES, one of the most important journalism institutions in this nation's history," said Bilton. "The mission of the program remains as vital as ever: pursuing the truth, holding power to account and remaining fearless in the face of any external pressure or influence."

Bilton is the fifth executive producer in 60 MINUTES' history, and the first to bring experience from outside linear television to the program.