NEW YORK (AP) — Veteran NBC host and news anchor Craig Melvin has been tapped to replace Hoda Kotb as co-host of the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. hours of “Today.”

Craig Melvin will become the co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show beginning early next year, following the departure of Hoda Kotb. He will join Savannah Guthrie on Monday, January 13. Kotb’s final day on the morning show will be Friday,

Staffers chanted, “Craig, Craig, Craig!” at a staff meeting when Savannah Guthrie welcomed them to the “Craig era!”