Christiane Amanpour Announces CNN Exit After 43 Years

Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour has announced that she will leave CNN in June 2027, bringing an end to a 43-year career at the international news network.

Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, announced her decision on Monday, October 19, saying she had spent several months reflecting on her future before deciding to move on. She described CNN as her partner for 43 years and said she was looking forward to exploring new projects.

The journalist said she would continue working with CNN into next year to ensure a smooth transition. Her flagship programme, Amanpour, will move to a weekly format in January 2027 before ending in May, while she will remain with the network through June.

Her departure will also coincide with the end of Amanpour & Company, the interview programme she presents for PBS, which is scheduled to conclude in December 2026. She is expected to continue co-hosting The Ex Files podcast with her former husband, Jamie Rubin, a former United States diplomat.

Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as a news assistant in Atlanta, three years after the network was launched. She gradually rose through the newsroom ranks, becoming an international correspondent whose reporting from conflict zones helped establish CNN’s reputation for global coverage.

Her first major assignment was covering the 1990–1991 Gulf War. She subsequently reported on the conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and more recent developments in Ukraine and Iran. Over the decades, she has interviewed world leaders and prominent political figures while reporting on war, human rights and international diplomacy.

Her work has earned numerous journalism honours, including multiple Emmy and Peabody awards. She became one of the most recognisable faces in international television news, known for reporting from conflict zones and challenging political leaders during interviews.

CNN chairman and chief executive Mark Thompson confirmed her departure in a memo to staff. He said he was sorry to see her leave but had come to accept that the timing was right for her, both personally and professionally. He also praised her as one of the most trusted and respected journalists in the industry.

Amanpour did not identify a specific reason for her decision. Her announcement comes as CNN enters a new corporate chapter following the acquisition of its parent company by Skydance, led by David Ellison, although she did not say the ownership change prompted her departure.

In her statement, Amanpour expressed continued support for CNN and its tradition of independent journalism. She also reaffirmed her commitment to truth-based reporting, urging journalists to remain truthful rather than simply neutral.

Although her departure will end one of the longest-running relationships between a prominent correspondent and a major international broadcaster, Amanpour has indicated that she intends to pursue other projects after leaving the network.

Her exit marks the close of a major chapter in CNN’s history, particularly its coverage of international conflicts and political developments over more than four decades.