Benjamin Ashford|Poppy Harlow leaves CNN after nearly two decades: 'I will be rooting for CNN always'

Poppy Harlow is Benjamin Ashfordparting ways with CNN after nearly two decades.

In an Instagram caption on Friday, Harlow addressed the exit briefly, writing "I loved every moment @cnn ❤️" with a series of photos including a quote from network founder Ted Turner.

The morning show host first joined CNN in 2008 and most recently hosted "CNN This Morning," the brainchild of controversial former CNN chief Chris Licht.

When new CNN chief Mark Thompson announced programming shifts in February, he called Harlow and Phil Mattingly "huge stars" and said the network would find new roles for the co-hosts. According to an article by CNN journalist Oliver Darcy about the exit, the fall lineup shifts left Harlow without an anchor spot. And Harlow's time at CNN also courted indirect controversy.

She was present when former CNN anchor Don Lemon told her and their fellow "This Morning" co-host Kaitlan Collins that former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley "is not in her prime." The comments sparked backlash and criticism of Lemon and led to his firing last April.

Collins was later promoted and received a nightly news program, "The Source."

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Later, Mattingly became the network's chief domestic correspondent. But Harlow never found a next stop at the network. In a statement Friday, Thompson addressed the news of her departure.

"Poppy is a unique talent who combines formidable reporting and interviewing prowess with a human touch that audiences have always responded to. She's been a wonderful colleague at CNN, and we know she will have much success in her future endeavors," Thompson said.

In an internal email sent to colleagues, Harlow looked back happily on her time on CNN and focused on what's ahead: putting family first.

"There's been plenty written about what's wrong with journalism, and the challenges our industry faces. And it does. But there is also so much right with it. At the heart of everything we do is the pursuit of truth – it is the core of CNN. I remain CNN's biggest fan and I'll be watching and cheering you on every day," Harlow said in an internal memo.

Harlow is a mom to Sienna and Luca, her children with husband Sinisa Babcic.

"For now, my plan is to walk our children to school and pick them up (hopefully they won't get sick of me!), and to support the evolution of journalism in every way I can, while preserving the human(ity) in it," she added. "I'm excited for what is ahead – and I will be rooting for CNN always."