Savannah Guthrie named co-anchor of "Today"

(CBS News) It's official - Savannah Guthrie will take over for Ann Curry as co-anchor of the "Today" show.

NBC made the announcement Friday afternoon, hours after Guthrie appeared in Curry's former seat alongside Matt Lauer on the morning program.

Pictures: Savannah Guthrie
Pictures: Ann Curry

Curry was cut loose from "Today" on Thursday, giving a tearful goodbye after serving a year as co-host. She remains at NBC as a special correspondent and will be involved in the network's Olympics coverage in London.

Guthrie joined "Today" as co-host of the show's third hour in June 2011, and also serves as the show's chief legal analyst. Before that, she was a White House correspondent for NBC News.

"She has a one-of-a-kind combination of sharp wit and approachability, and our viewers value her journalistic skills and legal background just as much as her humor and charm. She can effortlessly go from interviewing the Secretary of State to jumping Olympic-sized hurdles on the plaza," "Today" executive producer Jim Bell said in a statement. "I'm thrilled to welcome Savannah as our newest co-anchor, and along with Matt, Al and Natalie, we've got the best morning team in the business."

NBC said the new "Today" team - Lauer, Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales - will officially debut on Monday.