Two front-runners have surfaced as CBS looks to fill the vacant executive producer’s position on its venerable newsmagazine “60 Minutes,” Variety reports.

The spot has been open since Jeff Fager exited CBS News in September amid alleged violation of CBS company policy.

Both of the leading candidates are “60 Minutes” insiders, according to the report.

“Under one scenario said to be getting new emphasis, Bill Owens, the executive editor, could be named the third executive producer in the history of the show, while Tanya Simon, a senior producer, could be assigned a new and elevated role, according to a person familiar with the matter,” Variety reports. “No final decision has been made, insiders caution, and Susan Zirinsky, a highly respected and veteran producer at CBS News, remains a candidate for the executive producer position as well.”

Variety adds: “Anointing the team of Owens and Simon would be a nod to the fact that the culture of ’60 Minutes’ is an insular one, set off from the rest of CBS News. The only people to have run the program in its more than 50 seasons on air are Don Hewitt, its founding producer, and Fager, his successor. CBS overseers are also said to have noticed that the show has fared well so far this season under Owens’ aegis.”