David Koch to leave Sunrise

David “Kochie” Koch will leave Sunrise after a record 20 years on the show – but says his next move won’t take him too far.

The breakfast host made the announcement just after 8am on Monday in between stories, prefacing the bombshell with: “Before we move on, just a bit of news from me.”

He told viewers after “nearly 21 years and 5300 shows”, he felt it was time to pass the torch to the next generation.

“I started here before Facebook, before Instagram, before Twitter and iPhones. That’s how old I am,” he said, as his co-host Nat became visibly emotional.

“I have loved every single minute of it, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here over the last 21 years,” Koch said.

“I’ve been privileged to experience so many great adventures, to meet so many different people and to meet so many different people and to cover so many moments of history in the making. It really is the world’s best job.”

Koch, 67, will air his last show in two weeks, having made his mark as the longestserving breakfast host in Australian history, Seven confirmed in a statement.

The television star said the move would allow him to focus on his family and business interests – but he didn’t rule out a return to the Sunrise couch.

“As everyone knows, I’m a finance nerd, so you’ll still see me pop up every so often on RBA board meeting days or covering other big financial news, but as a guest rather than host,” he said.

Koch and his wife Libby own Pinstripe Media, a marketing company specialising in startups, business and finance.

He is also the executive chairman of AusBiz, a streaming channel for markets and business content.

Outside of finance, the father-of-four is also chairman of the Port Adelaide Football Club, and Patron of the Koch Centre For Youth in Macquarie Fields.

Seven Chairman Kerry Stokes credited Koch with playing a crucial role in the success of Sunrise, and the network more broadly.