SHAKE-UP AT 'MEET THE PRESS': David Gregory out, Chuck Todd in

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- NBC named Chuck Todd the new host of "Meet the Press" Thursday in place of David Gregory, the moderator for the Sunday morning show for the past six years.

Gregory is also leaving the network. His next career move is not yet known.

"The next-generation 'Meet the Press,' led by Chuck Todd, is certain to be the must-watch political destination on Sundays and beyond," NBC News president Deborah Turness said in an internal memorandum that doubled as the network's announcement.

Todd's first day on "Meet the Press" will be Sept. 7.

Veteran NBC correspondent and MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell will fill in this weekend.

In other words, last week was Gregory's last edition of "Meet the Press" -- though the viewers didn't know that at the time.

Gregory confirmed his departure in a series of Twitter messages on Thursday afternoon, hours after CNNMoney reported that the "Meet the Press" moderator change was imminent.

"I leave NBC as I came -- humbled and grateful," he wrote. "I love journalism and serving as moderator of MTP was the highest honor there is."

He added, "I have great respect for my colleagues at NBC News and wish them all well. To the viewers, I say thank you."

Todd, for whom the term "political junkie" seems invented, will remain the political director for the network news division, but will give up his mid-morning MSNBC newscast "The Daily Rundown."

Todd will be the 12th moderator in "Meet the Press" history. Born on radio in 1945 and reborn for television in 1947, "Meet the Press" is the longest-running show on TV.

Within NBC, it is a cherished brand, but it's also one that has fallen on hard times. With Todd in the anchor chair, NBC hopes to reinvigorate the program and its weekly ratings.