PHOTOS: Diane Sawyer through the years

NEW YORK (KABC) -- Diane Sawyer will be leaving her role as "World News" anchor to take on a new role at ABC News, and David Muir will be replacing her, the network announced Wednesday.

Sawyer anchored ABC News' flagship broadcast since December 2009 when Charlie Gibson retired. The network said 68-year-old Sawyer decided to step down "to concentrate full time on new programming," and she will "continue to interview the most extraordinary people in the world."

See photos of Sawyer over the years.