Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international anchor and one of the most recognizable faces in television news, announced Monday that she is leaving the network after 43 years, with her final sign-off set for next June.

"CNN has been my partner of 43 fantastic years," Amanpour said in her statement announcing the move, adding that she's looking forward to "interesting new projects" once her CNN tenure winds down. She did not give a specific reason for the decision. CNN chairman Mark Thompson confirmed the move in a memo to staff, saying the two had been discussing her plans for several months before the announcement.

A staged exit

Amanpour's departure is being phased in rather than immediate. Her flagship CNN International program, "Amanpour," will scale back to airing once a week starting at the beginning of 2027 before ending entirely in May of that year; she officially leaves the network the following month. Her separate PBS program, "Amanpour & Co.," winds down by the end of this year. She'll continue hosting "The Ex Files," a podcast she co-hosts with her ex-husband, former U.S. diplomat Jamie Rubin, independent of her CNN role.

CNN HAS BEEN MY PARTNER OF 43 FANTASTIC YEARS.

The timing has drawn attention because it coincides with a broader transition at CNN, which came under new ownership this year when Skydance completed its acquisition of the network's parent company. TheWrap reported that Amanpour's exit is one of the most prominent on-air departures since the ownership change, while ITV News noted the symbolic weight of losing a reporter whose career at the network stretches back to 1983, long before CNN become the global brand it is today.

Amanpour built her reputation covering major conflicts and crises around the world — from the Gulf War to the Balkans to the Arab Spring — and became known for aggressive interviews with heads of state that few other American broadcasters attempted. She has also weathered her own controversies over the decades, including criticism of her coverage choices from multiple political directions, but has remained one of the network's most consistent global brands throughout.

What's next

CNN has not named a successor for Amanpour's international anchor chair, and a network spokesperson said further programming decisions will be announced closer to the formal transition dates. For now, viewers can expect Amanpour's reduced on-air presence to begin in early 2027, with her full exit following months later — giving the network, and her audience, a long runway to adjust to her absence.