News anchor and one of the Nine Network's biggest stars Mike Munro has resigned after 22 years with the television network.
Munro, who starred on flagship current affairs show 60 Minutes and as host of A Current Affair, is taking early retirement from the media industry, News Ltd is reporting.
Munro, who now reads the weekend news and hosts This Is Your Life and Missing Persons Unit, said he was sad to leave the network, but had found the past five years a "hard slog".
He told network CEO David Gyngell of his decision this afternoon.
His decision was delayed by his desire to leave the network in a good position, with Nine now ahead of Seven in the ratings after a number of years in second place.
"It has been been a really hard slog for the past five years, but the network is now in a fantastic position and morale is up," he said.
"Nine is doing well and I want to go out on top."
Munro will leave the network on October 31.
Gyngell is said to have "begrudgingly accepted" Munro's decision to leave the network, but the Nine boss has asked the star to return as a freelancer.
"Mike will always be part of the Channel Nine family and we hope to see him back here if and when he gets bored," he said.
Additional comment is being sought from the Nine Network.
