After weeks of speculation, CBS announced today that Scott Pelley will replace Katie Couric as anchor of 'CBS Evening News.'

Pelley, a 22-year veteran of CBS news, was the front-runner for the job and will lead his first newscast as anchor and managing editor on June 6.

The award-winning journalist has reported for '60 Minutes' since 2004 and worked as the network's chief White House correspondent. In recent years, he's covered everything from the tsunami in Japan to the recession in the U.S., and interviewed people like President George Bush, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

"I am delighted to join the terrific team at the 'CBS Evening News,'" Pelley said in a statement. "It's a privilege to work alongside the most gifted and talented journalists in the industry."

CBS News chairman Jeff Fager said of Pelley, "Scott has it all. He has the experience, the credibility and he is among the very best reporters ever to work at CBS News. In more than two decades at CBS News, he has distinguished himself at every level, right up to his current role at '60 Minutes,' where his work has been incomparable. We like to think of CBS News as the 'reporter's network' and I can't think of anybody in this business better suited for the anchor chair than Scott."

Although rumors spread for weeks in advance of Couric's departure, Couric officially announced her exit last week. "I have decided to step down from the 'CBS Evening News,'" Couric said. "I'm really proud of the talented team on the 'CBS Evening News' and the award-winning work we've been able to do in the past five years in addition to the reporting I've done for '60 Minutes' and 'CBS Sunday Morning.' In making the decision to move on, I know the 'Evening News' will be in great hands, but I am excited about the future."

Couric hasn't yet announced her next move, but recent reports have her hosting a talk show for ABC, as well as reporting for the network during the 2012 presidential election.