India, Feb. 24 -- 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Lester Holt announced on Monday that he will step down from the program this summer after nearly a decade. He will transition to a new full-time role at the primetime newsmagazine 'Dateline.' The 65-year-old shared the news with staff in a letter on Monday morning.

"A smile comes to my face when I think that with Nightly News, and Dateline, I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history," Holt wrote. "As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has. What an amazing ride."

At Dateline, Holt informed staff that he will b...