Former Local Reporter Takes National Stage Full-Time At #1 TV Morning Show

ABC News President, Ben Sherman, announced to the staff on Monday that longtime Good Morning America weather personality, Sam Champion, has accepted a position at The Weather Channel and would anchor his last report for ABC on Wednesday morning.

Taking his place permanently will be Michigan native, Ginger Zee. Zee, who was formerly known as Ginger Zuidgeest, her family name, spent part of her early career at WEYI (Channel 25) in Flint, from 2003 to 2005, before moving to WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids and then to WMAQ in Chicago.

After five years in Chicago, Zee joined ABC News in 2011, serving as weather anchor on the weekend edition of Good Morning America. Zee can be seen across all of ABC's programs and frequently filled in for Sam Champion on weekday editions of Good Morning America before today's announcement.

Ginger Zee, who now lives in Manhattan and recently became engaged to WNBC reporter, Ben Aaron, is an Emmy award winning meteorologist and holds the AMS Seal for Meteorology.