Hoda Kotb Praises Craig Melvin as Her 'Today' Co-Anchor Replacement: 'You Are Made for This Job'

Hoda Kotb is confident that Craig Melvin is the perfect person to replace her as co-anchor of the fourth hour of NBC's 'Today' show.

Kotb, who is taking a leave of absence from the show to focus on her family, made the announcement during Monday's broadcast.

"I'm so excited to announce that Craig Melvin will be my replacement as co-anchor of the fourth hour of 'Today,'" Kotb said. "Craig is an incredible journalist and a wonderful friend, and I know he's going to do a great job."

Melvin, who has been a co-anchor of MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' since 2014, said he is "honored and excited" to join the 'Today' show team.

"I've been a fan of 'Today' for as long as I can remember," Melvin said. "It's an iconic show that has a special place in American culture. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, and I can't wait to get started."

Melvin will begin his new role on March 4th.

Kotb has been a co-anchor of the fourth hour of 'Today' since 2018. She will continue to co-anchor the first two hours of the show with Savannah Guthrie.

Kotb announced in January that she was taking a leave of absence from the show to focus on her family. She and her husband, Joel Schiffman, adopted a baby girl named Hope in April 2019.

Melvin is a graduate of Howard University. He began his career as a reporter for WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina. He joined MSNBC in 2011 as a correspondent and fill-in anchor.

Melvin is married to Lindsay Czarniak, a former ESPN reporter. They have two children.