Peter Alexander Leaves NBC After 22 Years

Peter Alexander, the veteran NBC News chief White House correspondent and co-anchor of Saturday TODAY, announced his departure from the network after 22 years, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. The 49-year-old journalist shared the news during the March 28 broadcast of Saturday TODAY from NBC's Studio 1A in New York City, where he bid an emotional farewell to colleagues and viewers.

Alexander, who lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Alison Starling, and their two daughters, ages 12 and 10, explained that the demands of traveling to New York for weekend broadcasts had kept him away from home excessively. "I've been away from my home more than 80 nights in the last seven months, more than 220 Friday nights away from my family in the last seven years," he said on air, his voice breaking at times. "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 challenge myself with something new." He added that family comes first, calling it a lesson he holds dear.

The announcement came as Alexander reflected on his extensive career at NBC News, which...