Rashida Jones is stepping down as president of MSNBC, as the network prepares to be spun off from Comcast along with other cable channels.
“After four incredible years at the helm of MSNBC and 11 years at NBCU, I have made the decision to pursue new opportunities,” Jones said in a memo to employees today.
She said that Mark Lazarus, who is leading the spun off cable assets, asked her to stay on during a transition period.
“I came to this decision over the holidays while reflecting on our remarkable journey and the many successes we’ve achieved together as a team,” Jones wrote. “This has been the most rewarding chapter of my professional career and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished, which has been made possible only by you.”
Rebecca Kutler, senior VP of content strategy, will serve as the network’s interim president. At a staff meeting, Lazarus said that MSNBC would retain its name after the spinoff. Kutler also will be hiring a head of newsgathering and a head of talent.
In a separate memo, Lazarus wrote, “Rashida has expertly navigated MSNBC through a years-long, unrelenting and unprecedented news cycle, all while driving the network to record viewership and making investments in nonlinear businesses. MSNBC is well-positioned for the future, and I am grateful that she will continue to support us during this transition.”
Lazarus wrote that Kutler “is the ideal leader to guide us through this moment, and I look forward to collaborating with her as we shape our collective future together.”
Jones became president of MSNBC in February, 2021, succeeding Phil Griffin.
Reports that Jones was weighing a departure from the network surfaced shortly after Comcast made the announcement that it was embarking on a spinoff of its cable assets. That will separate MSNBC from sister news organization NBC News.
More to come.
Jones’ memo is below:
Team,
After four incredible years at the helm of MSNBC and 11 years at NBCU, I have made the decision to pursue new opportunities.
I shared this decision with Mark, who has been incredibly supportive and has asked me to stay on for the next few months to help guide the network during this transitional period.
I came to this decision over the holidays while reflecting on our remarkable journey and the many successes we’ve achieved together as a team. This has been the most rewarding chapter of my professional career and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished, which has been made possible only by you.
This team is the best in the business, and I will miss being in the trenches (and control rooms!) with you. The people here at MSNBC are what make this place truly special, and our shared mission is what has always united us: to keep our viewers, readers and listeners well-informed, provide critical context, ask tough questions, speak hard truths, say the quiet part out loud, and always adhere to the facts, without fear or favor.
I am forever grateful for the shared experiences, the many mentors and mentees from over the years, coffee-fueled late nights and early mornings, and the lessons learned along the way.
Most importantly, I am more confident than ever that MSNBC is well-positioned for the future.
Rashida Jones
Lazarus’ memo is below:
All,
As Rashida announced this morning, she has made the decision to step down as president of MSNBC after an extraordinary tenure leading the network.
I first met Rashida in 2018, and since then, I have been impressed by her business successes, exceptional producing skills and sharp editorial instincts.
Rashida has expertly navigated MSNBC through a years-long, unrelenting and unprecedented news cycle, all while driving the network to record viewership and making investments in nonlinear businesses. MSNBC is well-positioned for the future, and I am grateful that she will continue to support us during this transition.
Effective immediately, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca Kutler as the interim president of MSNBC, reporting directly to me. Rebecca is the ideal leader to guide us through this moment, and I look forward to collaborating with her as we shape our collective future together.
Since joining MSNBC in 2022, Rebecca has been a catalyst for growth across our digital, social, and audio platforms, resulting in across-the-board record audience engagement. She is a highly respected industry veteran with decades of experience in executive producing, news programming, and business development. With Rebecca’s track record of driving the development and expansion of several of the network’s marquee programs, it’s no surprise she was recently promoted to oversee all of dayside.
Please join me in expressing our gratitude to Rashida for her invaluable contributions to MSNBC and in congratulating Rebecca on her well-deserved appointment.
Mark Lazarus
