Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after four decades

Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN at the end of June 2027, and her nightly interview program, Amanpour, will end in May after more than four decades with the network.

The chief international anchor’s PBS program, Amanpour and Company, will also conclude at the end of 2026. She will continue hosting her podcast, The Ex Files.

Announcing her departure, Amanpour, 68, said she had spent months considering the decision.

"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 "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".

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A commitment to independence

Amanpour’s departure comes as CNN adjusts to its new ownership under Skydance, led by David Ellison and backed by his father, Oracle co-founder and Trump donor Larry Ellison.

Her decision is not understood to be specifically linked to the ownership change. However, some CNN journalists have expressed concern about the new owners’ perceived closeness to the Trump administration.

In a recorded message to viewers of her CNN International program on Monday afternoon, Amanpour reiterated her commitment to independent reporting.

“You know that I’ve always been fiercely independent, and I will continue to be that for you for as long as I am here and beyond,” she said.

“That’s especially important today as we face unprecedented pressures from all sides – political, financial, and also from the rising dangers in the field.”

Amanpour has also spoken publicly about her ongoing treatment for ovarian cancer, following her diagnosis in 2021. She did not identify her health as the reason for leaving.

Thompson thanks Amanpour

CNN chief Mark Thompson, who announced earlier this month that he would remain with the merged company, described Amanpour as "one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere".

In a memo to staff on Monday, he said they had been discussing her departure for several months.

"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.

"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 added.

Thompson said the network would take time to celebrate Amanpour "before she departs next year".

From the assignment desk to the front line

Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as an assistant on the international assignment desk and became one of the network’s best-known correspondents through her coverage of wars and conflicts.

She has presented her nightly interview program on CNN International since 2009.

Reflecting on her career, Amanpour recalled her "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".

She thanked "all the amazingly talented people I've worked with throughout this incredible journey. Especially my beloved show teams and field crews."

"It's the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much," she continued, “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 favour.”