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Kotb will join Savannah Guthrie during the
first two hours of the popular program, starting at 7 a.m. EST
(noon GMT), and become the first pair of women to host the show
along with weatherman Al Roker and Orange Room host Carson Daly.
Kotb will continue co-hosting the 10 a.m. hour of "Today" with
Kathie Lee Gifford.
"It's 2018 and we are kicking off the year right because Hoda is
officially the co-anchor of Today," said Guthrie, 46, who
announced the news during the program's opening moments.
Kotb, 53, quickly filled in as co-host when Lauer was fired on
Nov. 28 after a female colleague complained to NBC officials
about a pattern of inappropriate sexual behavior that began
while they were on assignment at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
in Russia, according to the network.
At least two other women went to NBC with similar complaints
against Lauer following the first allegation. None of the women
has been publicly identified.
"Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching
and I'm committed to beginning that effort," Lauer said after he
was fired.
Reuters has not independently verified the accusations.
Kotb joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent and has
co-hosted the fourth hour of "Today" with Gifford since 2008.
She also hosts a program on Sirius XM satellite radio.
"Over the past several weeks, Hoda has seamlessly stepped into
the co-anchor role alongside Savannah, and the two have quickly
hit the ground running," NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said in
an email to staff, according to Today.com.
(Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Additional reporting by Susan
Heavey in Washington D.C.; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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