The staff of Good Morning America gathered in its conference room "and welcomed Charlie Gibson with a standing ovation," a GMA insider says. David Westin and Diane Sawyer were on hand; Robin Roberts was away on assignment, but she sent a fun congratulatory note for Charlie.

"The staff was teary-eyed but couldn't be more thrilled for Charlie and his new assignment as sole anchor of "World News Tonight,'" the insider said. "Charlie thanked the entire staff of 'GMA' from the bottom of his heart and said how much he would miss them."