CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour will leave the network in June 2027, bringing an end to a 43-year career that saw her report from major conflict zones and interview prominent world leaders.
Amanpour, 68, announced her departure on Monday, October 19, saying she had taken several months to consider the decision.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” she said in a statement.
She added that she was looking forward to new opportunities while expressing continued support for the network’s commitment to independent journalism.
“I will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” Amanpour said.
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as an assistant on the international assignment desk in Atlanta before progressing to become one of the network’s most recognisable correspondents and its chief international anchor.
Her reporting career included coverage of the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and developments in Iran. Her work from conflict zones and interviews with international leaders helped establish her reputation as a prominent international journalist.
Under the transition plan, Amanpour will end her daily CNN programme, Amanpour, at the end of 2026. It will move to a weekly format in January 2027 before concluding in May, with her departure from the network scheduled for June.
Her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, is also expected to end in December 2026. She will, however, continue co-hosting The Ex Files podcast with her former husband, Jamie Rubin, and has indicated that she intends to pursue other projects.
CNN Worldwide Chairman and Chief Executive Mark Thompson said he was sorry to see her leave, but had come to accept her decision after discussions over several months.
“Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally,” Thompson said in a memo to staff.
Amanpour’s announcement comes as CNN adjusts to a new corporate ownership structure following the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance earlier this month. However, she did not cite the ownership change as the reason for her departure.
In a message to viewers, she reaffirmed her commitment to independent reporting and said she would continue working for CNN until her exit.
“You know that I’ve always been fiercely independent, and I will continue to be that for you for as long as I am here and beyond,” she said. “That’s especially important today as we face unprecedented pressures from all sides – political, financial, and also from the rising dangers in the field.”
Amanpour’s departure will close a career spanning nearly the entire history of CNN, which launched in 1980. She has received numerous journalism awards for her reporting, including Emmy and Peabody awards.
