After 43 years on the CNN payroll, star journalist Christiane Amanpour is calling time on her career with the broadcaster. She will step down in June 2027.
The 68-year-old broke the news on Monday, explaining that the choice followed months of reflection. "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 in a statement.
She made clear there was no bitterness in the move. "I look forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism," she said. Her parting message to the profession was short: "Remember: always be truthful, not neutral."
CNN chairman Mark Thompson confirmed the departure in a note to staff. He revealed that he and Amanpour had been discussing her plans 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," he wrote.
Amanpour's journey at CNN began in the early 1980s, when she started as a news assistant. She went on to become one of the network's most recognisable foreign correspondents, covering the Gulf War, the Bosnian War and the genocide in Rwanda. Her work also took her to Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine and Iran. Along the way, she sat down with world leaders and reported on major political and humanitarian crises, building a name for tough, searching interviews.
Since 2009, she has fronted CNN's international interview show, 'Amanpour'. It will go weekly in January and wind up in May 2027, while she continues to report and travel for the network until her June exit.
Her other programme, 'Amanpour & Company', which airs on PBS in the United States, is set to end in December 2026.
Leaving CNN is not entirely new territory for her. In 2010, she briefly moved to ABC News to anchor 'This Week', replacing George Stephanopoulos, before returning to CNN.