Christiane Amanpour Announces Departure from CNN After 43 Years

Christiane Amanpour announced she will leave CNN next year after 43 years of service. She said she has thought about this decision for many months and wants to separate from the organization. The announcement was made in a statement released on 19 October 2026.

Amanpour began her career at CNN in 1983 as an assistant on the international news desk. She later became the chief international anchor and reported on conflicts such as the Gulf War, Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran. She has presented her own nightly interview program on CNN International since 2009.

In her statement, Amanpour said she looks forward to interesting new projects down the line. She added that she will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. She thanked the talented people she has worked with, especially her show teams and field crews.

CNN chairman Mark Thompson described Amanpour as one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere. He said the network will take time to celebrate her before she departs next year. He thanked her for 43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship.