<p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr">After a career spanning more than five years as a host on the popular “Today” show, American media personality Hoda Kotb has announced her decision to leave the show at the end of this year.</p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Reasons for Hoda Kotb's departure from the "Today" show</span></h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Hoda Kotb, 60, explained that the reason for her decision was her desire to spend more time with her family, saying: “I had my children late in life, and I feel that they deserve more time and attention from me.” She added that turning 60 was a great motivation for thinking about this change, stressing: “I felt that I had reached the peak of my career, and now I wanted to start a new chapter in my life.”</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Announcing the decision on the show, fellow anchor Savannah Guthrie praised her courage, calling her decision to leave at the height of her success "the height of courage."</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> It is noteworthy that Hoda Kotb has two daughters: Haley, 7 years old, and Hope, 5 years old.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Hoda Kotb's farewell message to employees</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In a letter to her colleagues at NBC, Hoda described her experience as the “longest professional love story” of her life. She noted that she spent 26 years at NBC News, including 10 years on “Dateline,” 16 years at 10 Hour, and 7 years at 7 Hour.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Hoda is set to continue in her position until the end of this year, before moving to a new role within NBC, the details of which have not yet been revealed.</p>