CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga announced her departure from the cable news network on Thursday after a nine-year tenure.
In her message on X, she shared, “After nine wonderful years at CNN, I’ve decided to leave for an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” although she didn’t specify where she’s headed next.
She expressed gratitude for the experiences and relationships she built during her time at CNN, stating, “I’m grateful for the experiences, friendships and support from fabulous colleagues during my CNN years.” Additionally, she teased, “Exciting news to share very soon!”
A spokesperson from CNN confirmed to The Post that Mark Thompson, the head of the network, informed staff of Golodryga’s departure earlier that morning, prior to her public announcement. It was noted that her final day would be Friday, when she is expected to sign off at the conclusion of her broadcast.
Following her exit, Zain Asher, who co-anchored “One World” with Golodryga since September 2023, will continue in the anchor role.
Golodryga’s departure marks another significant exit from CNN this week, as it follows the unexpected announcement from veteran correspondent Christiane Amanpour, who will leave the network after 43 years. Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, announced that she’d conclude her daily program at the end of the year but would still host a weekly show until May 2027.
These departures come shortly after Paramount Skydance finished acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, bringing both CNN and CBS News under one corporate umbrella. The new media entity, now called Skydance, is headed by David Ellison, the son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison.
Golodryga, who is 48 years old, is married to Peter Orszag, a former budget director under Obama and currently CEO of Lazard. They have two children together.
Before anchoring CNN International’s “One World,” Golodryga held the position of senior global affairs analyst at the network. She began her CNN journey in 2017 as a contributor while still serving as a correspondent for CBS News, where she later co-hosted “CBS This Morning.” After leaving CBS due to a morning-show lineup change in April 2019, she joined CNN full-time five months later.
Her background includes roles as a news and finance anchor at Yahoo and as a co-anchor on the weekend edition of ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Golodryga’s television career kicked off at CNBC in 2001.
Originally from Moldova, Golodryga came to the U.S. in 1980 with her parents as Jewish refugees and was raised in the Houston area. She is fluent in Russian and has reported on significant events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Her notable reporting includes a 2019 exclusive interview with Huawei’s founder and a CNN documentary focusing on Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Recently, Golodryga co-authored a children’s novel titled “Don’t Feed the Lion,” which addresses issues of antisemitism and prejudice, alongside Israeli journalist Yonit Levi.
When contacted on Thursday, Golodryga chose not to provide additional comments.
