Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN in June 2027 after 43 years

CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour will leave the network in June 2027 after 43 years, she announced on Monday, according to CNN.

“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 in a statement.

The 68-year-old journalist said she looked forward to new projects while continuing to support CNN and its tradition of independent journalism.

“Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she said.

Amanpour, a globally recognised foreign correspondent, has hosted her eponymous nightly interview programme on CNN International since 2009.

In January 2025, she reduced her hosting schedule to a few days a week. In January 2027, the programme will move to a weekly format and run until May. She will continue reporting and travelling around the world for CNN through June.

CNN chairman Mark Thompson informed colleagues of Amanpour's decision in a memo on Monday morning, saying he and the journalist had been discussing the matter for 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 wrote.

Describing Amanpour as “one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere”, Thompson said the network would take time to celebrate her contributions before her departure next year.

“On behalf of the entire CNN leadership team, I want to thank Christiane for 43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship,” he wrote.

In her statement, Amanpour thanked the colleagues she had worked with throughout her career, particularly her programme teams and field crews.

She recalled covering major international conflicts, beginning with the First Gulf War, followed by the Bosnian War, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran, among other assignments.

“It's the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much,” she said, adding that they had worked together to seek facts, evidence and humanity so CNN could report the truth about the world “without fear nor favor”.

Amanpour's PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, will end in December 2026.

She also said she would continue her podcast, The Ex Files, with her former husband Jamie Rubin. The podcast is produced by Global.