Christiane Amanpour to Leave CNN After 43 Years

Christian Amanpour, CNN's long-serving chief international anchor, announced on Monday that she will be leaving the network after 43 years of service. In a statement to TheWrap, Amanpour, 68, said she had made the difficult decision to part ways with CNN following many months of contemplation. She will conclude her daily programs on CNN and PBS at the end of 2026, transitioning to a weekly show on CNN International through May 2027.

Amanpour will remain with the network through June, bringing to an end a career that helped cement CNN's reputation for international reporting. CNN chairman Mark Thompson confirmed Amanpour's departure in a memo to employees, expressing his regret at her leaving while acknowledging her decision was right for her personally and professionally.

Thompson hailed Amanpour as "one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere" and promised CNN would celebrate her achievements before her departure. Amanpour began her tenure at CNN in 1983 as a news desk assistant in Atlanta, three years after the network's inception. In her memoir to TheWrap, Thompson recalled that an early supervisor doubted her ability to become a foreign correspondent or hold an on-air position, but Amanpour's determination proved him wrong.

She became an international correspondent in 1990, starting with the Persian Gulf War as her first significant assignment. Over her career, Amanpour covered conflicts in Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine, interviewing world leaders and garnering numerous accolades, including Emmys, Peabody, and George Polk awards. Although she left CNN in 2010 to anchor ABC News' Sunday morning political affairs program, "This Week," she returned to CNN International in 2012 under an arrangement that allowed her to maintain her association with ABC News.

Her signature program, "Amanpour" on CNN International, featured interviews with political figures from around the globe. She recently reduced her hosting schedule to a few days per week in January 2025 and continues to host "The Amanpour Hour" on CNN's U.S. network. Amanpour's PBS show, "Amanpour & Company," premiered in 2018 and will conclude at the end of December.

In her announcement, Amanpour thanked her colleagues and expressed her commitment to truthful journalism, stating, "Always be truthful, not neutral."