MSNBC chief Rashida Jones steps down as network prepares for spinoff

New York
CNN
—

Rashida Jones is stepping down as president of MSNBC, and one of her top lieutenants, Rebecca Kutler, is taking over as interim network president.

The change at the top of the progressive news network comes as its parent company, Comcast, prepares to spin off MSNBC and other cable channels into a separate publicly traded company.

Mark Lazarus, the future CEO of the spin-off, said in a memo Tuesday morning that Jones had expertly navigated MSNBC through a yearlong, relentless and unprecedented news cycle, all while driving the network to record ratings and making investments in non-linear companies.”

Now, Lazarus said, he wants to partner with Kutler “as we shape our collective future together.”

Among the looming questions: Will MSNBC change its approach to political coverage once President-elect Donald Trump regains power? When the spinoff goes live, will the network move out of its iconic Rockefeller Center office?

Jones’ decision to leave resolves one of the other questions that has been hanging over the network. Oliver Darcy by Status reported last month, where she was considering an exit in early 2025. Jones took over around the same time four years ago, reflecting the fact that television news transitions often coincide with presidential election and inauguration cycles.

Jones was a historic choice — the first black person to lead a major television news network. She recruited new hosts like Jen Psaki and prioritized digital extensions of the MSNBC brand. In 2022, she hired Kutler from CNN.

Kutler spent 20 years at CNN, first as an intern for one of anchor Wolf Blitzer’s programs in the Washington, DC, bureau. She later became a key producer, launched several shows for CNN, oversaw a roster of analysts and commentators, and headed up programming for CNN+, the short-lived streaming news service.

At MSNBC, Kutler “has been a catalyst for growth across our digital, social and audio platforms, resulting in record audience engagement across the board,” Lazarus wrote in his memo.

During a Tuesday morning conference call with employees, Lazarus said Kutler will hire a director of news gathering and a chief talent officer while she builds a leadership team. Lazarus also put an end to speculation that MSNBC might have to rebrand itself once it’s spun off from NBC. The network will keep its name, he said.

Lazarus noted that Kutler was promoted last week to oversee all daytime programming at MSNBC, in addition to her existing role running podcasts, movies, live events, streaming and digital platforms.

In her own internal memo, Jones did not specify what she plans to do next, but she expressed confidence that “MSNBC is well positioned for the future.”