Rashida Jones, who made history as the first Black president of a major U.S. television news network, confirmed on Tuesday that she will step down from her position at MSNBC after four years at the helm. Jones made the announcement in a meeting with top network anchors, executives, and staff.
Rebecca Kutler, currently the senior vice president of content strategy at MSNBC, will take over as interim president. Kutler, who was recruited by Jones in 2022, will lead the network while Jones stays on in an advisory role until March.
Jones reflected on her decision in a memo to MSNBC staff, attributing her choice to a period of reflection during the holidays. “This has been the most rewarding chapter of my career,” she wrote.
The timing of Jones’s departure comes amidst significant changes within Comcast’s broader media strategy. Comcast recently announced plans to spin off its cable networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, and several others, into a new publicly traded entity. The reorganization, which is still in progress, is expected to be finalized soon.
Jones assumed the role of MSNBC president in February 2021, taking charge during a turbulent political climate marked by the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots and the beginning of President Joe Biden’s term. Under her leadership, MSNBC saw major successes, particularly in political coverage. The network consistently achieved high ratings on key political nights, solidifying its place as a leading voice in U.S. news.
During her tenure, Jones focused on expanding MSNBC’s digital presence, launching a revamped mobile app, and introducing premium subscription services. She also negotiated new long-term contracts with key talent, including Rachel Maddow, and oversaw the creation of live event programming. While ratings have dipped following the 2020 election, MSNBC remained a dominant force in cable news, consistently ranking second in viewership with an average of 807,000 daily viewers.
Mark Lazarus, who will take the reins of the new company after the spin-off, praised Jones’s leadership in a memo to staff. “Rashida has expertly guided MSNBC through one of the most challenging periods in recent history, all while achieving record viewership,” Lazarus wrote. He also assured employees that the MSNBC brand would remain intact after the spin-off.
Before becoming president, Jones served as senior vice president of NBC News and MSNBC, where she played a key role in overseeing major network events, including election night coverage and presidential debates.
Rebecca Kutler, who will now lead the network on an interim basis, brings extensive experience from her time at CNN, where she spent two decades in senior roles.
