Marking the end of an era, iconic CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour has announced her exit after 43 years. The chief international anchor led CNN’s global coverage and helmed its flagship international programs. She covered major international flashpoints in depth, from the Gulf War and Bosnia to Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran.
Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN next year
CNN’s Christiane Amanpour has announced that she will leave the network in June next year, bringing her celebrated tenure to a close. On Monday, October 19, she disclosed her plan of departing the network in June 2027. Her daily program, Amanpour, will conclude in May 2027.
Per CNN, Amanpour stated, “After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years.” The 68-year-old added that she “looks forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. Remember: always be truthful, not neutral.”
CNN Chairman Mark Thompson informed colleagues of her exit in a memo Monday morning. Thompson shared, “Christiane has thought carefully about this decision, and she and I have been discussing it for some 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.”
He went on to call her “one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere” and noted that the network will celebrate her “before she departs next year.”
Joining CNN in 1983 as a desk assistant in Atlanta, Christiane Amanpour worked her way up to become a leading foreign correspondent. Renowned globally for her fearless reporting, she has anchored her self-titled nightly interview show on CNN International since 2009.
In January 2025, Amanpour reduced her schedule to a few days per week. Starting in January 2027, the show will air only weekly until its final episode in May. She will keep reporting from around the globe for CNN through June, ahead of her exit.
