- Rashida Jones has resigned as president of MSNBC.
- Rebecca Kutler will succeed him as interim president.
- The left-leaning network faces an uncertain future as it heads toward a spinoff and a new Trump era.
MSNBC president Rashida Jones has resigned, she said in a memo to staff distributed Tuesday and seen by Business Insider.
The change comes amid ratings struggles for the network and days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
A memo from Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal’s media group, said Rebecca Kutler, a senior vice president of content strategy, would become interim president of the left-leaning news network.
Kutler joined MSNBC in 2022 after two decades at CNN. At MSNBC, she has been behind marquee programs including “Inside with Jen Psaki” and “The Weekend,” and the launch of “MSNBC Live,” a live event series. She has also led the network’s digital growth and expanded its audio offerings.
MSNBC is among NBCUniversal networks, along with CNBC, E!, Oxygen and others, that its parent company, Comcast, plans to spin off next year. Comcast positioned the move as a way to grow both organically and by acquiring other cable networks.
Jones started in the role in 2021, at the start of the Biden administration. She was the first black executive to lead a major news network and presided over early ratings successes. The situation has changed recently. Ratings for MSNBC and CNN have fallen since the presidential election in November. Meanwhile, Fox has grown up.
Jones said the decision to resign was hers and that she was asked to stay on for a transitional period.
“I made this decision over the holidays reflecting on our incredible journey and the many successes we have achieved together as a team,” she wrote in a memo to MSNBC staff. “This has been the most rewarding chapter of my professional career and I am extremely proud of what we have achieved, which has only been made possible by you.“
Had Jones stayed, she would have reported to a new boss, Lazarus, who was appointed to lead the new company. Cesar Conde will stay on as chairman of NBCUniversal News Group, but will lose the cable network as part of the transition.
MSNBC faces an uncertain future under Trump 2.0. It just brought back its star, Rachel Maddow, five days a week to cover the first 100 days of the new Trump administration. The move could give the network a much-needed ratings boost.
Lazarus also told staff during a meeting Tuesday that MSNBC would keep his name, acknowledging that was a question there, according to an audio transcript seen by BI.
A former MSNBC executive said they thought running the network was an “impossible situation.” They requested anonymity to protect business relationships; their identity is known to BI.
“Resistance TV is less important,” this person said. “The challenge will be how does the network get more mainstream without losing its audience? The shrinking linear market and rapidly evolving political environment have created a perfect storm.”
Here is Lazarus’ full memo to MSNBC staff:
all,
As Rashida announced this morning, she has made the decision to step down as president of MSNBC after a remarkable tenure at the helm of the network.
I first met Rashida in 2018 and since then, I have been impressed by her business successes, incredible production skills and sharp editorial instincts.
Rashida has deftly navigated MSNBC through a long, relentless and unprecedented news cycle, all while pushing the network to record ratings and making investments in non-linear businesses. MSNBC is well positioned for the future and I am grateful that it will continue to support us through this transition.
Effective immediately, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca Kutler as interim president of MSNBC, reporting directly to me. Rebecca is the ideal leader to lead us at this time and I look forward to working 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 audience engagement across the board. She is a highly respected industry veteran with decades of experience in executive production, news programming and business development. With Rebecca’s track record in leading the development and expansion of some of the network’s marquee programs, it’s no wonder she was recently promoted to oversee all day.
Please join me in expressing our gratitude to Rashida for her invaluable contributions to MSNBC and in congratulating Rebecca on her well-deserved nomination.
Mark Lazari
