Sources say Matt Lauer was the driving force behind firing a hotshot executive hired to help turn around the Today show’s slump in the ratings less than three month after taking over. Former ESPN executive Jamie Horowitz 'was not the right fit' according to a staff memo sent on Monday by NBC News President Deborah Turness. But sources tell reporters it was Lauer who went to Turness and pushed or the firing. Sources say Matt Lauer was the driving force behind firing a hotshot executive hired to help turn around the Today show’s slump in the ratings less than three month after taking over
@highlight
Jamie Horowitz 'was not the right fit' according to a memo from NBC News President Deborah Turness
@highlight
Sources claim host Matt Lauer called for the dismisas
@highlight
Horowitz wasn't due to officially take over until December 1, but had been carrying out a 'listening tour' since September
@highlight
His style is said to have alienated presenters and producers alike
@highlight
'He would pit anchors against anchors and producers against producers and it created a lot of internal problems,' said a source
@placeholder was said to be completely caught off guard by the decision to let him go.