Christiane Amanpour to Exit CNN in June After 43 Years

Christiane Amanpour, who parlayed a job as a news assistant on CNN‘s foreign desk into a years-long globe-trotting assignment for the news giant, plans to step away from the media company in June.

“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” Amanpour said in a statement Monday. She added that she “looks forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. Remember: always be truthful, not neutral.”

Amanpour’s exit is announced just as CNN comes under the control of a new owner, Skydance, which is grappling with billions of dollars in debt and perceptions that it may want to have its news operations skewed toward a particular view on politics and other issues.

Amanpour, 68 years old, has hosted both an evening program for CNN’s international channel since 2009 and a show for PBS, “Amanpour & Company,” since 2017.

“Christiane has thought carefully about this decision, and she and I have been discussing it for some months,” said Mark Thompson, CEO of CNN, in a statement. “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.”