[Rashida Jones Steps Down as MSNBC President, Rebecca Kutler Takes Over as Interim President
Rashida Jones is stepping down as president of MSNBC, effective immediately, as the network’s corporate parent, Comcast, prepares to spin off MSNBC and other cable channels into a separate publicly traded company. Rebecca Kutler, one of Jones’ top lieutenants, will take over as interim network president. Mark Lazarus, the future CEO of the spin-off, praised Jones’ leadership, noting that she expertly navigated the network through a years-long, unrelenting news cycle, driving the network to record viewership and making investments in nonlinear businesses.
Kutler, who joined MSNBC in 2022 after spending 20 years at CNN, has been a key driver of growth across the network’s digital, social, and audio platforms. During a conference call with staffers, Lazarus said Kutler will be hiring a head of newsgathering and a head of talent as she builds out a leadership team.
Jones, the first Black person to run a major television news network, oversaw the addition of new hosts like Jen Psaki and prioritized digital expansions of the MSNBC brand. However, she expressed confidence that the network is “well-positioned for the future” and is leaving the door open for other opportunities.
Under Jones’ leadership, MSNBC hired Rebecca Kutler to oversee digital platforms, podcasting, live events, streaming, and live programming. Additionally, the network announced that its best-known host, Rachel Maddow, would be returning to the 9 p.m. hour five nights a week for Trump’s first 100 days, with Maddow’s reporting on the impact of Trump’s policies.
While Jones’ exit resolves one question, several looming questions remain unanswered, including what changes MSNBC will make to its approach to political coverage as Trump regains power and whether the network will relocate from its iconic Rockefeller Center office space.
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