Veteran journalist and chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour will depart CNN in June 2027, concluding a 43-year tenure with the global broadcaster. In a statement released Monday, the 68-year-old reflected on her decision to step down, emphasizing her guiding journalistic principle: “Remember: always be truthful, not neutral.”
Amanpour joined CNN as an international news desk assistant in 1983 and quickly rose to prominence as a frontline correspondent covering major global conflicts, including the First Gulf War, Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Since 2009, she has anchored her flagship eponymous interview program. In her announcement, she credited the camaraderie of her field crews for enabling CNN to broadcast the truth "without fear nor favour."
Departure Timeline and Future Plans Amanpour’s transition away from the network will occur in phases:
- December 2026: Concludes daily broadcasts of her nightly interview programs on CNN and PBS (Amanpour & Company).
- Early 2027: The CNN program shifts to a weekly format.
- May 2027: The weekly broadcast concludes.
- June 2027: Official departure from CNN.
Following her exit, Amanpour plans to pursue new independent projects and will continue hosting her podcast, The Ex Files, with her former husband, Jamie Rubin.
CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson praised Amanpour as “one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere.” In a staff memo, Thompson noted that he and Amanpour had been discussing the transition for several months, expressing gratitude for her decades of "remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship" and confirming the network will formally celebrate her contributions before her departure.
