MSNBC Shake-Up: Rashida Jones Exits as President

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With a looming split from NBCUniversal, MSNBC will get a new president.

This past holiday season, I found myself reflecting deeply and decided it’s time for me to move on from my role as head of MSNBC, a position I’ve held for four years. Yesterday morning, I shared this news with our dedicated team at the cable channel.

She mentioned that she had made this decision to Mark, who has shown great support and requested her to continue working for a while longer to assist in navigating this transition phase within our network,” was rephrased in an easy-to-understand manner.

As the future CEO of SpinCo (once Comcast splits its cable TV network business from NBCUniversal), I penned down a memo on Tuesday announcing that Rebecca Kutler is taking over as the interim president of MSNBC, starting right away.

Rashida skillfully managed MSNBC through a prolonged, relentless, and unprecedented news period, achieving record viewership and investing in nontraditional ventures,” Lazarus penned. “MSNBC is poised for the future, and I am thankful she will aid us during this transition phase.

After joining MSNBC in 2022, Rebecca has ignited growth across our digital, social, and audio platforms, leading to unprecedented audience engagement. This esteemed industry veteran with a wealth of experience in executive producing, news programming, and business development has earned great respect. Given her history of spearheading the evolution and expansion of numerous flagship programs for the network, it’s no wonder she was recently appointed to manage all daytime operations.

During a team meeting on Tuesday, Lazarus provided clarification regarding a significant uncertainty concerning MSNBC’s future, as reported by an attendee. Specifically, he stated that after Comcast completes the spin-off process, MSNBC will continue to carry its existing name.

Last year, upon his initial meeting with MSNBC’s leading figures after the deal declaration, Lazarus expressed some doubt as to whether it would indeed be successful.

In early 2021, Jones assumed leadership of the channel, marking a significant turning point. She replaced Phil Griffin in this role, with Griffin now managing the production company of MSNBC’s star, Rachel Maddow. During her term, Jones encouraged MSNBC to broaden its business scope beyond traditional TV content. This expansion included substantial financial commitment towards podcasts, documentary films, and more recently, live events.

During her regular runs, Maddow decided to reduce her hosting schedule from five nights a week to just one, dedicating more time to developing digital aspects of the brand. On Monday, MSNBC announced that Maddow would be returning – albeit temporarily – to her previous five-night-a-week schedule. Meanwhile, the channel has managed to maintain its lead in linear ratings over CNN, but a decline in viewership was observed following the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, Kutler played a crucial role in the creation of MSNBC’s fresh business ventures and innovative shows such as “The Weekend” and Jen Psaki’s program.

The memos from Jones and Lazarus are below.

Team,

Following an outstanding four-year tenure as head of MSNBC and a remarkable eleven years with NBCU, I’ve chosen to explore fresh challenges.

As a fortunate confidant, I’ve confided in Mark about my choice. He’s been an exceptional ally, encouraging me to remain part of the team for a while longer. During these upcoming months, he wants me to steer the network through this transition phase.

During the holiday break, I carefully considered our incredible journey and all the triumphs we’ve shared as a team. This experience has been the most fulfilling part of my professional life so far, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. None of this would have been possible without your contributions.

This team is unmatched in the industry, and I’m going to miss working alongside you in the heat of action (and control rooms!). The folks at MSNBC are what make this workplace exceptional, and our common goal has always been our bond: to keep our audience informed, offer crucial context, ask challenging questions, voice hard truths, say what others may not dare, and never waver from the facts. We do all of this fearlessly and impartially.

I will always be thankful for the cherished memories, numerous guides and protégés throughout my journey, sleepless nights powered by coffee, and valuable insights gained over time.

Most importantly, I am more confident than ever that MSNBC is well-positioned for the future.

Rashida Jones

All,

This morning, Rashida shared that she is resigning from her role as MSNBC’s president, marking the conclusion of an exceptional period during which she guided the network.

I initially encountered Rashida back in 2018, and ever since that time, I’ve been consistently amazed by her thriving business ventures, outstanding production abilities, and keen editorial intuition.

Rashida has skillfully steered MSNBC through a prolonged, relentless, and extraordinary news cycle, resulting in record viewership and strategic investments in nontraditional industries. MSNBC is poised for future success, and I am thankful that she will remain with us during this period of change.

Starting right away, I am delighted to share that Rebecca Kutler has been appointed as the temporary president of MSNBC, working directly under me. Rebecca is perfectly suited for this role in steering us through this phase, and I eagerly anticipate our collaboration as we jointly mold our future.

OR

Beginning immediately, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Rebecca Kutler will serve as the interim president of MSNBC, reporting directly to me. With her leadership skills, she is an ideal choice for guiding us during this period, and I am excited about working together to define our common future.

After joining MSNBC in 2022, Rebecca has been instrumental in boosting growth across our digital, social, and audio channels, leading to unprecedented audience engagement. A seasoned industry professional with extensive experience in executive production, news programming, and business development, she is highly esteemed in her field. Given her impressive history of shaping and expanding key network programs, it’s not surprising that she was recently appointed to lead daytime operations.

Let’s all take a moment to thank Rashida for her priceless work at MSNBC, and let’s cheer on Rebecca as she starts in her new role that she truly deserves.

Mark Lazarus

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2025-01-14 17:55