After 43 landmark years reporting from front lines and global hotspots across the world, Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s iconic chief international anchor, has revealed her plan to depart the network in 2025.
In a public statement shared this week, the 68-year-old veteran journalist opened up about the months of deliberation that led to her choice. “After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” she wrote. Looking ahead to her next chapter, Amanpour shared that she is eager to pursue new professional projects, while remaining a steadfast supporter of the network and its decades-long commitment to independent journalism. She closed her statement with a signature call to action for the industry: “Remember: always be truthful, not neutral.”
Amanpour’s career at CNN traces back to 1983, when she joined the organization as an entry-level assistant on the international news desk. Over the following decades, she climbed the ranks to become one of the network’s most recognizable and respected correspondents, building her reputation through unflinching on-the-ground coverage of some of the most consequential conflicts and crises of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Her resume of major assignments stretches from the First Gulf War — her first breakthrough big-story beat — to the bloody ethnic conflicts of the Bosnian War, the Rwandan genocide, decades of unrest in Afghanistan, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and political upheaval in Iran, among many other global events. Since 2009, she has helmed her own eponymous nightly interview program on CNN International, drawing interviews with global leaders, newsmakers, and cultural icons.
CNN Chairman Mark Thompson echoed widespread admiration for Amanpour across the network and the global journalism industry in an internal memo sent to CNN staff on Monday. Thompson confirmed that the decision came after months of private discussions between him and Amanpour, noting that the anchor had weighed her choice thoughtfully. “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,” Thompson wrote. He called Amanpour “one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere” in the world, and confirmed that the network will plan a series of celebrations to honor her decades of work before her departure next year. Thompson also extended thanks on behalf of CNN’s entire leadership team for Amanpour’s 43 years of extraordinary journalism, unwavering loyalty, and deep friendship.
In her reflections on her decades-long career, Amanpour paid tribute to the colleagues and teams that supported her work through every high-stakes assignment. She expressed gratitude to “all the amazingly talented people I’ve worked with throughout this incredible journey. Especially my beloved show teams and field crews.” Recalling the shared work of delivering accurate, unflinching news to global audiences, she emphasized that team camaraderie was the backbone of CNN’s award-winning international coverage. “It’s the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much,” she said. “as we together battled to seek the facts, the evidence and the humanity, so that CNN could always broadcast the truth about the world and to the world, without fear nor favour.”