MSNBC president Rashida Jones steps down ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration

Rashida Jones, the president of MSNBC, announced that she will be stepping down from her post after heading the network for four years. Rebecca Kutler, the network's senior vice president of content strategy, was named interim MSNBC president. Jones recruited Kutler to the network in 2022. In a memo to staff, Jones said, “After four incredible years at the helm of MSNBC and 11 years at NBCU, I have made the decision to pursue new opportunities.”

“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,” she said. “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.”

She added that she will stay on with MSNBC for the “next few months” to help with the transition.

Rashida Jones, MSNBC said, made history as the first Black executive to lead a major US television news network.

The announcement came as MSNBC is awaiting a spin-off. Two months ago, Comcast announced a plan to put its cable TV networks into a separate publicly traded company, currently known as SpinCo. The new company will include MSNBC, CNBC, the USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel.

In a memo to staff, Mark Lazarus, the incoming chief executive of SpinCo, praised Jones for her years helming MSNBC.

“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,” Lazarus said in a memo to staff.

Lazarus told staff members on a network call that MSNBC will retain its name after the spin-off transaction is complete.