Rob Simmelkjaer

— -- Rob Simmelkjaer was named anchor/correspondent for ABC News Now on December 21, 2005. Mr. Simmelkjaer is based in New York.

In this role, Mr. Simmelkjaer anchors the channel's live coverage and new briefs, in addition to hosting original programs like "Inside the Newsroom," "Guilt or Innocence," and "The Mix."

Prior to joining ABC News, Simmelkjaer worked at ESPN, Inc. as vice president, assistant to the president. In this position, he assisted George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, in key decision-making related to management and strategic direction, and played a key role in negotiations and developing business relationships between ESPN and major sports leagues. He was promoted to vice president from the director of programming and acquisitions at ESPN, where he was the primary figure responsible for the launch of a six-year programming agreement between ESPN/ABC Sports and the National Basketball Association.

Simmelkjaer practiced law at two New York firms, Weil, Gotshal and Manges from 2000-2001, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore from 1997-2000 prior to his tenure at ESPN.

Simmelkjaer is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. At Dartmouth, Simmelkjaer anchored the Dartmouth sports radio for four years as well as Dartmouth radio's award-winning coverage of the 1992 presidential election. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Alexander Nagle award for excellence in broadcast journalism.

Simmelkjaer is a native of Haworth, NJ. He currently lives in New York City.

ABC News Now is a 24-hour news and information channel that delivers live breaking news, headlines every half hour and a wide-range of original news, lifestyle and entertainment programs. Currently, ABC News Now is available on digital cable as part of Verizon's FiOS expanded basic package, and to over 35 million Internet homes through ABC News Now On Demand and AOL, in addition to Comcast, SBC Yahoo! DSL, Bell South DSL and Verizon FiOS customers.