David Gregory to Leave NBC’s Meet the Press

Updated 5:32 p.m. E.T.

David Gregory, moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press for the past six years, announced Thursday that he’S leaving the show.

Gregory’s departure follows a series of rumors that he would be replaced. In July, after the New York Post‘s Page Six reported that Gregory would leave after November midterm elections, NBC released a statement that said, “We heard the same false rumors and suggest you take them with a grain of salt, as we did.” Many read the lukewarm words as a sign of Gregory’s impending exit.

Chuck Todd, currently the NBC News political director and host of The Daily Rundown, will fill Gregory’s chair beginning Sept. 7, NBC News President Deborah Turness said in a memo to staff. Andrea Mitchell will serves as a moderator on Meet the Press this weekend.