Chuck Todd to leave Meet The Press – Kristen Welker to take over

Meet the Press presenter Chuck Todd announced that he will step down this year after nine years hosting the show.

Kristen Welker, NBC News’ co-chief White House correspondent, will take over from him.

“It’s been an amazing nearly decade long run. I am really proud of what this team and I have built over the last decade,” Todd said during the broadcast Sunday.

“I’ve loved so much of this job, helping to explain America to Washington and explain Washington to America.”

Todd plans to remain at NBC in a new role as chief political analyst.

Welker joins the ranks of hosts that included Tim Russert, who presided over the show from 1991 until his death in 2008.

She is the second woman — following its inaugural host, Martha Rountree to moderate “Meet the Press.”