Another prominent CNN personality is heading for the exit as veteran anchor Bianna Golodryga announced Thursday that she is leaving the network after nine years, becoming the second major on-air figure to reveal departure plans this week.
Golodryga, 48, broke the news on X, revealing that an unexpected career opportunity had convinced her to move on from the cable news giant.
“After nine wonderful years at CNN, I’ve decided to leave for an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” she wrote.
The longtime journalist offered no immediate details about her next job, leaving viewers guessing about where she might land.
“I’m grateful for the experiences, friendships and support from fabulous colleagues during my CNN years,” Golodryga continued.
She ended her announcement with a brief teaser.
“Exciting news to share very soon!”
According to the New York Post, CNN CEO Mark Thompson informed employees of Golodryga’s departure Thursday morning, shortly before she made the announcement public.
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A network spokesperson confirmed that Friday will be her final day, with Golodryga expected to deliver her farewell at the conclusion of her broadcast.
Her co-anchor, Zain Asher, will remain with CNN International’s One World following the departure.
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The announcement comes during a period of significant change at CNN, which is adjusting to new corporate ownership and the approaching departure of another longtime anchor.
Just three days earlier, veteran international journalist Christiane Amanpour announced plans to leave the network after an extraordinary 43-year career.
Amanpour, 68, is scheduled to step away from her daily program at the end of 2026 before continuing with a weekly broadcast through May. Her final departure is expected in June 2027.
The back-to-back announcements come shortly after Paramount Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on Oct. 6.
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The massive media deal brought CNN and CBS News under the same corporate ownership, creating a major shift in the television news industry.
The newly combined company, operating under the Skydance name, is led by David Ellison, whose father is Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison.
The ownership shake-up has intensified attention on CNN’s future, particularly as prominent journalists begin announcing their exits.
However, neither Golodryga nor Amanpour has publicly attributed her decision to the acquisition.
Golodryga has co-anchored One World with Asher since September 2023 while also serving as CNN’s senior global affairs analyst.
She initially joined the network as a contributor in 2017 while working for CBS News.
After leaving CBS in April 2019 amid changes to its morning television lineup, she became a full-time CNN employee that September.
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Her broadcasting career stretches back more than two decades, beginning at CNBC in 2001.
She later worked at Yahoo and ABC News, where she co-anchored the weekend edition of Good Morning America, before joining CBS This Morning.
Born in Moldova during the Soviet era, Golodryga immigrated to the United States with her parents as Jewish refugees in 1980 and grew up near Houston.
Her international reporting has included extensive coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.
She also conducted a high-profile interview with Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei in 2019 and worked on a CNN documentary examining the plight of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
In 2025, Golodryga co-authored the children’s novel Don’t Feed the Lion with Israeli journalist Yonit Levi, addressing antisemitism and prejudice.
She is married to Peter Orszag, a former budget director under President Barack Obama who currently serves as CEO of investment bank Lazard. The couple has two children.
With Golodryga’s next destination still under wraps, her departure adds another unanswered question about the future of CNN’s on-air lineup under its new ownership.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
