Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour is set to leave CNN in June 2027, bringing an end to a remarkable 43-year career with the international news network.
The 68-year-old journalist, who serves as CNN’s Chief International Anchor, announced her decision after months of reflection, describing her time at the network as an extraordinary professional journey.
In a statement, Amanpour said she had made the decision after “many months of thought and a few sleepless nights”, adding that she was parting ways with CNN, her partner of 43 years.
Although she did not disclose her next career move, she expressed optimism about pursuing new projects while wishing the network continued success in maintaining its tradition of independent journalism.
“Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she said, reiterating a principle that has become closely associated with her approach to journalism.
Amanpour also expressed gratitude to the colleagues, production teams and field crews she worked with throughout her career, highlighting their collective efforts in reporting major international events and conflicts.
She recalled her coverage of the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Rwandan genocide, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran, describing the pursuit of facts, evidence and humanity as central to her work.
Amanpour joined CNN’s foreign desk in Atlanta in 1983, beginning a career that would establish her as one of the most recognisable international correspondents in global journalism. Her early assignments included reporting on the Iran-Iraq War.
She served as CNN’s Chief International Correspondent from 1992 to 2010 before leaving for ABC News. After two years at ABC, she returned to CNN, where she continued her international reporting and interview programmes.
CNN Chairman Mark Thompson confirmed her departure in a memo to newsroom staff, saying Amanpour had carefully considered the decision and that they had been discussing it for several months.
Thompson described her contribution to the network as extraordinary, praising her journalism, loyalty and friendship. He added that CNN would celebrate her achievements before her departure.
As part of the transition, her nightly interview programme, Amanpour, which began in 2009, will be reduced to a weekly broadcast from January 2027 and continue in that format until May.
She will remain CNN’s Chief International Anchor until June 2027, when her tenure with the network is expected to end.
Her programme with PBS, Amanpour & Company, is scheduled to conclude in December 2026. However, her podcast, Christiane Amanpour Presents The Ex-Files, which she co-hosts with her former husband, James Rubin, will continue.
Her announcement comes amid changes in the ownership and leadership landscape of major American media organisations, including developments involving Warner Bros. Discovery and Skydance. The wider media environment has attracted scrutiny over editorial independence and the direction of established newsrooms.
Amanpour’s departure will mark the end of one of the longest and most influential careers at CNN, having covered some of the world’s most consequential conflicts and political developments over more than four decades.