MSNBC Chief Rashida Jones Resigns After Four Years in Position

Rashida Jones, the president of MSNBC, announced her decision to step down after four years at the helm. She made history as the first Black executive to lead a major U.S. television news network. Rebecca Kutler, senior vice president of content strategy, was named interim president of the network. Jones reflected on the network’s accomplishments in a memo to staff and praised the team for their success. The announcement comes as Comcast plans to spin off most of its cable TV networks into a separate company, including MSNBC. Jones led MSNBC to ratings successes during her tenure, retaining and signing deals with top talent like Rachel Maddow. She also made investments in digital offerings and created a live event series. Despite a post-election ratings dip, MSNBC ended last year as the No. 2 network across cable. Mark Lazarus, incoming chief executive of SpinCo, praised Jones for her leadership and the network’s success under her guidance. MSNBC will retain its name after the spin-off transaction. Kutler, who previously worked at CNN, joined MSNBC in 2022 and will serve as interim president. The cable television industry is facing challenges as consumers shift towards streaming options, but MSNBC is positioned for future success under new leadership. Jones previously held roles at NBC News and MSNBC, overseeing special event production.

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