Veteran journalist and CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour will leave the network in June 2027 after 43 years, ending one of the longest careers in international broadcast news.
CNN announced her departure on Monday, October 19, 2026. The decision was conveyed in a statement by Amanpour and in an internal memo to staff seen by Reuters.
Amanpour, 68, joined CNN in 1983 as an entry-level assistant on the international desk. She rose to become one of its most prominent faces, first gaining international recognition for her coverage of the 1991 Gulf War after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
In her statement, Amanpour said the decision followed 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!" she said.
She described the move not as retirement but as a transition to new opportunities.
How her exit will happen
Amanpour will not leave immediately. Her daily shows across CNN and PBS will end in December 2026.
She will continue to host a weekly programme on CNN through May 2027 and work on a transition through June 2027.
She had already scaled back her on-air schedule in January 2025, appearing a few days a week. Her namesake nightly interview programme has aired on CNN International since 2009.
Reflecting on her career, Amanpour pointed to the conflicts and teams that shaped her reporting.
"From my very first big exciting assignment covering the First Gulf War, to the horrors of the Bosnian War, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran and all the points in between, it’s the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much, as we together battled to seek the facts, the evidence and the humanity, so that CNN could always broadcast the truth about the world and to the world, without fear nor favor," she said.
She closed her statement with a message to colleagues: "Remember: always be truthful, not neutral."
CNN Chairman Mark Thompson announced the development in a memo to staff on Monday morning.
He said he had discussed the decision with Amanpour for several months.
"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."
Thompson described Amanpour as one of the most trusted and beloved journalists in the profession.
"In the meantime, on behalf of the entire CNN leadership team, I want to thank Christiane for 43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship," he said.
The announcement comes less than two weeks after Skydance, formerly Paramount Skydance, completed its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, CNN’s parent company, on October 6. The deal brings CNN and CBS News under common ownership, according to Reuters.
Amanpour said she looks forward to "interesting new projects down the line" and will always be rooting for CNN and its history of independent journalism.
She confirmed she will continue co-hosting "The Ex Files," her podcast with former husband Jamie Rubin, produced by Global.
She did not cite health as a reason for her departure.
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