Christiane Amanpour Quits CNN After 43 Years, Chairman Reacts
Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN in June 2027 after 43 years with the international news network, prompting an emotional response from chairman Mark Thompson.
Amanpour, 68, announced her decision on Monday, October 19, 2026, saying she had spent months considering her next move before deciding to end her long association with the broadcaster.
In a statement released by CNN, she described the network as her partner for 43 remarkable years and expressed interest in pursuing new professional opportunities.
She also reaffirmed her support for independent journalism, urging the network to remain committed to reporting the truth without fear or favour.
Reacting to the announcement, Thompson told CNN staff that discussions about Amanpour’s departure had been ongoing for several months.
He admitted he was saddened by the news but had accepted that the decision was right for her, both personally and professionally.
Thompson described Amanpour as one of the most trusted and beloved journalists in the world, adding that CNN would celebrate her contributions before her departure.
He also thanked her for 43 years of outstanding journalism, loyalty and friendship on behalf of the network’s leadership team.
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 and became one of its most prominent international correspondents, reporting on major conflicts and humanitarian crises across the world.
Her assignments included the First Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the genocide in Rwanda, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine, alongside significant developments in Iran.
Reflecting on her career, she expressed gratitude to the colleagues, production teams and field crews who supported her work throughout the years.
She credited their shared commitment to gathering facts and presenting evidence for helping CNN report international events to audiences worldwide.
Amanpour has hosted her flagship interview programme, Amanpour, on CNN International since 2009. Her schedule was reduced in January 2025, and she will move to one episode a week from January 2027.
The programme is expected to conclude in May 2027, shortly before her departure from the network.
Her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, which she has hosted since 2017, is also scheduled to end in December 2026, according to CNN.
However, she will continue hosting The Ex Files, a podcast she co-hosts with her former husband, Jamie Rubin.
Amanpour previously left CNN in 2010 to join ABC News, where she became moderator of This Week, before returning to CNN in 2012.
Her announcement comes after Paramount Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, 2026. However, CNN has not established any direct link between the transaction and Amanpour’s departure.
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