When the news broke of Mark Haines' passing, I had to look again, rub my eyes and then look again. Too soon has this broadcasting legend been taken from our screens, but more importantly his family.

Mark Haines loved kids, and loved his family, but he also loved his job, his work, his workmates, and CNBC.  On the worst days of the financial crisis, as September 11th 2001 played out in front of our eyes, and the dark days that followed, when things were really tough, Mark was there, with his professionalism, integrity and posture, that no-one, and no-one, will match for a good deal of time to come.

When I first started watching CNBC back in the late nineties, Mark had already been on our screens for a decade. His finesse was his attraction.  No-nonsense, no-arguing, he wanted to know, and by word, he found out.

Many have commented that he'll have been giving the guards on the stairway to heaven a good grilling on his way, and then still got the answers he was after.

Never again will watching CNBC in the mornings be the same, Mark was part of the furniture at the network. His style, his memory, will live on in those that he nurtured, took under his wing, and made part of the family.  Joe Kernen, David Faber, they are the living legacy of what was a great man, a great broadcaster, and for those tough times, a great friend to viewers around the world.

CNBC President Mark Hoffman summed it up perfectly earlier today, Mark loved CNBC, and CNBC loved Mark.

Some have said that CNBC will never be able to replace Mark, and no they won't, but they shouldn't either.  Mark was unique, he was a talent like no other, Mark will be remembered for what he had achieved at CNBC.

Someplace, somewhere, Mark Haines is sat at an anchor desk, doing what he did best for so long, waiting to entertain us all again with his enthusiasm, wit, and humour, as only Mark can do.

My thoughts are with Mark's family, his friends, and with his colleagues at CNBC tonight.

Kevin Coy, Managing Editor, News on News