He praised the Today team as “the best of the best” and “consistently world class”, adding that he also “couldn’t be prouder” of his Amol Rajan Interviews series which has run on recent years on BBC Two.
However, he continued: “Twenty years after I first flirted with the idea, I’m extremely excited to jump into the Great Digital Narnia of the Creator Economy, and build my own company. I’ll still do Britain’s oldest TV quiz and most exciting podcast.
“But Del Boy was my hero growing up, and it’s time to unleash my inner entrepreneur.”
He added: “I am very much not leaving the BBC, Britain’s noblest cultural institution, whose Reithian spirit is such a generous gift to a world in flux. It’s that world I’m heading for, and I’m excited.”
Today editor Owenna Griffiths described Rajan as an “exceptional talent with a rare combination of intellectual dexterity, impressive breadth of interest and a brilliant sense of humour”.
Radio 4 controller said Rajan had “brought a distinctive intellectual energy and curiosity to Today that we will be really sad to lose”.
In a separate post on Instagram,, external Rajan praised his Today colleagues and said he had made sure to tell them of his exit before the official announcement.
Rajan is the third presenter in two years to leave Today, following Mishal Husain and Martha Kearney, who were replaced by Anna Foster and Emma Barnett respectively.
The programme’s other presenters are Justin Webb, who joined in 2009, and Nick Robinson, who took over from James Naughtie in 2015.