Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after 43 years

Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour on Monday said she was leaving her role at CNN after 43 years at the network.

"After thinking carefully for several months and experiencing a few sleepless nights, as you can imagine, I've decided to separate from CNN," Amanpour, 68, said in a statement.

"This daily show on CNN and PBS will come to an end at the end of this year. But CNN and I have worked out a smooth transition where we continue doing Amanpour once a week through to June," she said in a video message posted on social media.

Amanpour, who became famous for her on-the-ground reporting from major war zones, did not give a reason for her departure.

That said, her move to resign comes weeks after CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, was formally taken over by Paramount Skydance.

After a yearlong process, Paramount closed its merger with Warner on October 6, uniting two giants in TV news — CBS and CNN — under one roof.

The merger has drawn concerns over the independence of the newsroom at CNN as the merged company's owners, the Ellison family, are close allies of US President Donald Trump.

"You know I've always been fiercely independent, and I will continue to be that for you as long as I am here and beyond. That's especially important today as we face unprecedented pressures from all sides, political, financial, and also from the rising dangers in the field," she said, without directly referring to the deal.

What to know about Amanpour's career

Amanpour, who was born in London to an Iranian father and British mother, joined CNN in 1983 as an assistant. In the next few years, she went on to cover major wars in the 1990s, including the Gulf War and the Bosnian War.

Amanpour has interviewed many world's leaders, reported from conflict sites and interviewed newsmakers from hotspots such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda and the Balkans.

She said 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."

In a memo, CNN Chief Executive Mark Thompson praised Amanpour for "43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship."

"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 said.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar