Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, will leave the network in June 2027 after 43 years, she announced on Monday. Her daily CNN International program, *Amanpour*, will transition to a weekly format in early 2027 before ending in May, with her final CNN appearance scheduled for June. She will also conclude her PBS show, *Amanpour & Company*, by the end of 2026 but continue her podcast, *The Ex Files*, with former U.S. diplomat Jamie Rubin.

Amanpour, 68, said the decision followed “many months of thought and a few sleepless nights.” In a statement, she emphasized her commitment to “fiercely independent” journalism, calling it “especially important today as we face unprecedented pressures from all sides—political, financial, and also from the rising dangers in the field.” She added, “Remember: always be truthful, not neutral.”

Her departure coincides with CNN’s transition under new ownership. Paramount Skydance, led by chairman David Ellison, completed its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery—CNN’s parent company—on Oct. 6, merging it with CBS. While Amanpour did not explicitly link her exit to the ownership change, she underscored the need to maintain CNN’s tradition of independent journalism. “I will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism,” she said.

CNN CEO Mark Thompson, who will remain with the merged company, praised Amanpour’s “43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship.” He acknowledged her decision as the “right time for her, both personally and professionally,” though he expressed regret at her departure.

Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as an assistant on the international desk. She gained global recognition for her coverage of the 1991 Gulf War and later reported from conflict zones including Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran. Over her career, she interviewed world leaders and earned multiple Emmy Awards, as well as Britain’s Order of the British Empire.

In her announcement, Amanpour thanked her teams, noting that their work together ensured CNN could “broadcast the truth about the world and to the world, without fear nor favor.” She has been open about her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2021, urging others to prioritize medical screenings. Amanpour said she looks forward to “interesting new projects down the line.”