Rob Elgas and Marion Brooks
Another rising star is leaving Chicago’s NBC-owned station.
Rob Elgas, who co-anchors WMAQ-Channel 5’s 4:30 p.m. weekday newscast with Marion Brooks, is leaving NBC 5 after 13 years to pursue unspecified "new opportunities." His last day on the air will be March 13.
“We appreciate all that Rob has done during his years at NBC,” Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5, said in a memo to his staff. “Please join me in thanking Rob for his years of service, and offering our best wishes for the future.”
Elgas said Friday that he and his agent, attorney Steve Mandell, would be exploring possibilities in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere. “We’re going to cast a wide net and look at a lot of opportunities,” he said.
Calling the move “the most difficult career decision of my life,” Elgas said: “This place is great. It’s like a family here. This newsroom is phenomenal, and I will always be grateful for what Channel 5 did for me." Noting that he’ll turn 41 next week, he added: “These next eight to 10 years of my life are really crucial in what I’m going to be and what I’m going to do. That was a big part of my decision process.”
Born in suburban Arlington Heights and raised in Crystal Lake, Elgas attended the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and began his career at WICD-TV, the ABC affiliate in Champaign. He joined NBC 5 as a general assignment reporter in 2002 from KVIA-TV, the ABC affiliate in El Paso, Texas. Rising from reporter to weekend morning anchor to weekday morning anchor, he was promoted to the 4:30 p.m. weekday newscast in February 2012. He also reported for the 10 p.m. weekday newscast.
Until a permanent replacement is named, weekend news anchors Dick Johnson and Lauren Jiggetts will alternate alongside Brooks at 4:30 p.m.
Here is the text of Whittaker’s memo to NBC 5 staff:
Just wanted you all to know that Rob Elgas is leaving NBC 5 News to pursue new opportunities.
Rob joined us nearly 13 years ago from El Paso. We’ve watched him grow from reporter to weekend anchor to weekday anchor. He anchored our morning newscasts for several years before switching to his current assignment on the 4:30 p.m. news, along with reporting for the 10 p.m. We appreciate all that Rob has done during his years at NBC. His last day on the air will be Friday March 13th.
Beginning March 16th, our weekend team of Dick Johnson and Lauren Jiggetts will share co-anchor duties with Marion Brooks on the 4:30 p.m. news. We hope to have a decision on a permanent anchor team soon.
Please join me in thanking Rob for his years of service, and offering our best wishes for the future.
Frank Whittaker
Station Manager & Vice President of News