U.S. News & World Report Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

U.S. News & World Report has 5 executives leading key functions including strategy, executive management, operational oversight, financial planning, and corporate growth.

Committed to delivering data-driven journalism and institutional rankings, U.S. News & World Report empowers individuals and policymakers to make informed decisions through rigorous analysis and consumer-oriented guidance across education, healthcare, and finance.

Leadership Roles at U.S. News & World Report

  • Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer - Dafna Linzer
  • President & Chief Executive Officer - William Holiber
  • Co President - Chad Smolinski
  • Co President - Chris DiCosmo
  • Chief Financial & Operating Officer - Neil Maheshwari
  • Dafna Linzer - Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer

    Dafna Linzer, the Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer at U.S. News & World Report, directs high-level strategic initiatives and editorial alignment. By evaluating complex information streams, the Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer ensures that journalistic standards remain consistent with the broader mission of providing actionable insights. This role involves close collaboration with executive leadership to refine the digital media organization's approach to public affairs and institutional reporting. Dafna Linzer monitors emerging trends in the media landscape to maintain the competitive edge of the platform. Through careful analysis of data-driven content, the Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer supports the expansion of the company's influence across North American markets. By bridging the gap between editorial vision and corporate objectives, the Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer facilitates informed decision-making for the diverse audience relying on the company's evaluative content.

    William Holiber - President & Chief Executive Officer

    William Holiber, the President & Chief Executive Officer at U.S. News & World Report, architects the overarching vision for this digital media organization. Overseeing the integration of traditional reporting with sophisticated data-driven analysis, the President & Chief Executive Officer drives the company's reputation as a premier provider of institutional rankings. William Holiber manages the strategic direction of the platform, ensuring that educational, healthcare, and financial insights remain accessible to a global audience. By fostering a culture of editorial excellence and analytical rigor, the President & Chief Executive Officer secures the organization's market position. This leadership role involves coordinating with the board and senior management to optimize the content ecosystem. Through the expansion of digital services, the President & Chief Executive Officer enhances the utility of the company's comparative evaluations, ultimately supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of the entire media enterprise.
    William Holiber

    Chad Smolinski - Co President

    Chad Smolinski, the Co President at U.S. News & World Report, manages the development and execution of consumer-oriented guidance products. Focusing on the automotive and travel sectors, the Co President optimizes the digital platform to deliver high-value rankings that assist users in making complex purchasing decisions. Chad Smolinski coordinates with editorial teams to ensure that data collection methodologies remain robust and transparent. By driving innovation in how information is presented, the Co President expands the reach of the company's evaluative content across diverse consumer demographics. This role involves identifying new market opportunities and refining existing digital tools to improve user engagement. Through the strategic oversight of product development, the Co President ensures that the organization maintains its status as a trusted source for comparative analysis, directly contributing to the company's mission of providing clarity in an information-heavy landscape.
    Chad Smolinski

    Chris DiCosmo - Co President

    Chris DiCosmo, the Co President at U.S. News & World Report, leads the expansion of institutional partnerships and the development of specialized ranking methodologies. Focusing on the education and healthcare sectors, the Co President ensures that the company's comparative evaluations provide deep, actionable insights for institutions and policymakers. Chris DiCosmo manages the relationships with key stakeholders, driving the adoption of the company's data-driven analysis in professional environments. By overseeing the integration of new analytical tools, the Co President enhances the utility of the platform's content ecosystem. This role involves coordinating with editorial and data science teams to refine the evaluative frameworks that define the organization's identity. Through the strategic management of institutional outreach, the Co President strengthens the company's market impact, ensuring that the rankings remain the gold standard for individuals and organizations seeking reliable, evidence-based information.
    Chris DiCosmo

    Neil Maheshwari - Chief Financial & Operating Officer

    Neil Maheshwari, the Chief Financial & Operating Officer at U.S. News & World Report, directs the fiscal health and internal operational efficiency of the organization. By managing capital allocation and resource distribution, the Chief Financial & Operating Officer supports the company's ability to produce high-quality journalism and data-driven rankings. Neil Maheshwari oversees the infrastructure required to maintain the digital platform, ensuring that analytical methodologies are supported by scalable technology. This leadership role involves streamlining internal processes to maximize the impact of editorial output across education, healthcare, and public affairs sectors. Through rigorous financial planning, the Chief Financial & Operating Officer enables the organization to pursue strategic growth initiatives while maintaining operational stability. By aligning financial performance with the company's core mission, the Chief Financial & Operating Officer ensures that the business remains a sustainable and influential force in the digital media industry.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding U.S. News & World Report Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads U.S. News & World Report?
    U.S. News & World Report is led by Dafna Linzer (Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as William Holiber (President & Chief Executive Officer) and Chad Smolinski (Co President).
    Who is part of U.S. News & World Report’s executive team?
    The executive team of U.S. News & World Report includes leaders such as Dafna Linzer (Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer), William Holiber (President & Chief Executive Officer), Chad Smolinski (Co President) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does U.S. News & World Report have?
    U.S. News & World Report has 5 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in U.S. News & World Report’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of U.S. News & World Report includes roles such as Adviser To the Chief Executive Officer, President & Chief Executive Officer, Co President, Co President, Chief Financial & Operating Officer.