AceShowbiz - Peter Alexander is preparing to depart from NBC News after a distinguished career spanning more than two decades. The heartfelt announcement was made during the Saturday broadcast of TODAY, where Alexander has served as a host since 2018. Viewers witnessed the emotional moment live on air as he shared his reasons for stepping away.

Alexander expressed deep gratitude for his tenure at NBC News, highlighting the incredible experiences and relationships he developed throughout his time at the network. He emphasized that his family is his top priority, explaining that living in Washington, while working in New York, made it challenging to spend quality time with his daughters. “In this limited window before my daughters lose interest in hanging out with me, I’m eager to carve out a better balance between my personal and professional lives,” he stated.

Since joining NBC News in 2004, Alexander has reported from around the world, covering major events such as the 2005 Iraq election and the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden. He became a co-anchor on Saturday TODAY in 2018, working alongside Kristen Welker starting in 2020. Both were later appointed as NBC News’ co-chief White House correspondents in 2021. After Welker left the program in 2023 to moderate "Meet the Press," Laura Jarrett, formerly NBC’s senior legal correspondent, joined Alexander as his co-anchor on Saturday TODAY.

Jarrett paid tribute to her colleague during the farewell, saying, “Peter: We love you, we are going to miss you. You are a brilliant journalist. You are a good and decent man, and you are an extraordinary father. You only get one shot to be Ava and Emma’s dad... they are lucky to have you as their father.”

The announcement was accompanied by a moving statement from Alexander, reflecting on his remarkable journey with NBC News. “I have had the most incredible experience over 22 years with NBC News—from Baghdad to Banda Aceh, Burbank to Beijing—always alongside the best, most professional and most dedicated journalists in the business,” he said. “I could not be more grateful for every one of them and for the leaders and mentors here who have believed in me and given me more opportunities than I ever dreamed of.”

He also expressed appreciation to the audience, acknowledging the bond formed by being part of their daily lives. “And, of course, I’m grateful to you for welcoming me into your homes for all these years. It’s hard to believe, but I have been part of the NBC family for longer than I’ve had my own family,” Alexander added. “Studio IA—being right here, with this team and with all the folks you don’t see on TV—this is my happy place. It’s so fun! I mean, what a gig!”

Despite the excitement of his career, Alexander highlighted the toll that frequent travel took on his family life. “Because I live in Washington, it’s also a trek. I’ve been away from home more than 80 nights in the last seven months—more than 200 Friday nights away from home in the last seven years,” he explained. This demanding schedule motivated his decision to step back and seek a better personal-professional balance.

Looking ahead, Alexander is eager to embrace new challenges while prioritizing his family. “In this limited window before my daughters lose interest in hanging out with me, I’m eager to carve out a better balance between my personal and professional lives—and to challenge myself with something new. I’m excited, as I was taught family first, the rest is details,” he said. “So I just want to be very clear, thank you for your trust and your confidence, and most of all, thank you to NBC News, for what have been, undoubtedly, the most exciting years of my life.”

Fans of Saturday TODAY and Peter Alexander will surely miss his presence on the program. His commitment to journalism and heartfelt dedication to family have left an enduring impact on colleagues and viewers alike. Readers are invited to share their thoughts and well-wishes regarding his departure in the comments below.