Christiane Amanpour Announces CNN Departure After 43 Years With Network

Veteran journalist and CNN’s chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour said on Monday she will leave the network in June 2027, bringing an end to a 43-year career in broadcast journalism.

Amanpour, 68, announced her decision in a statement through CNN, after what she described as months of consideration.

“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” Amanpour said.

She said she looks forward to “interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism.”

Amanpour joined CNN in 1983, beginning her career as an assistant on the international assignment desk. She gradually moved into reporting, eventually establishing herself as a foreign correspondent known for covering events from the front lines.

Her early career included reporting on the first Gulf War, the wars in Bosnia, genocide in Rwanda, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Her work also brought international attention to developments in Iran and other regions experiencing political instability.

Amanpour built a reputation for conducting challenging interviews with political leaders and examining issues involving human rights, democracy, and international security.

Her reporting frequently placed her in difficult and dangerous environments.

CNN chairman Mark Thompson acknowledged Amanpour’s decision in an internal message to employees, praising her contributions and describing her as one of the most trusted journalists in the profession.

“Christiane has thought carefully about this decision, and she and I have been discussing it for some months,” Thompson wrote. “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.”

Fellow anchors and other correspondents have responded to the news, including CNN’s Jake Tapper, who reflected on their time reporting together over the years.

“One of my favorite assignments during my time at CNN was to cover the Je Suis Charlie (Hebdo) March in Paris alongside Christiane … She is an icon and we all wish her the best,” he wrote on X.

Amanpour’s announcement comes as CNN faces a period of corporate change following the acquisition of its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, by Paramount Skydance.

Since 2009, she has hosted “Amanpour,” her international affairs program on CNN International, interviewing influential figures and examining major global developments. The program is scheduled to conclude in May 2027.

Beyond CNN, she also presented “Amanpour & Company” on PBS, a program that is scheduled to conclude in December 2026. She is expected to continue working on “The Ex Files,” her podcast with her ex-husband and former spokesperson for the Department of State Jamie Rubin.