MSNBC boss out after four years at embattled network: ‘time to go amid uncertainty’
MSNBC boss Rashida Jones announced she is stepping down as president of the embattled left-leaning network — days before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Jones, who was in charge of the NBC Universal-owned cable network for four years, broke the news that she is relinquishing her position, effective immediately, in a memo to staffers.
“After four incredible years at the helm of MSNBC and 11 years at NBCU, I have made the decision to pursue new opportunities,” Jones wrote.
An MSNBC spokesperson confirmed that Jones is leaving when reached by The Post.
Jones, the first black woman to run a major TV news network, will be replaced on an interim basis by Rebecca Kutler, senior vice president of content strategy, the company said.
Her exit comes as MSNBC has been engulfed in turmoil — both from cratering ratings following the election of Donald Trump as president and last month’s announcement by parent company Comcast that it was planning to spin off its cable assets into a new publicly traded entity, SpinCo.
The formation of the new entity, which would be led by NBCU executive Mark Lazarus, could lead to MSNBC getting booted from its headquarters at 30 Rock, as The Post previously reported — and sparked speculation that Jones would flee the sinking ship.
Lazarus has said in private conversations that he was looking for “strong hands” to lead the network as it enters its next chapter — and expressed concerns that Jones was not up to the task, a source with knowledge of those talks told The Post on Tuesday.
An MSNBC spokesperson pushed back on that characterization.
“Mark never questioned if Rashida was up for the task. Full stop.” the rep said.
Some at the network have griped that Jones was “hands-off” as a leader, the source insisted.
But a second source who worked closely with Jones said she was a well-liked leader who “had wanted out anyway.”
The source said the network likely offered Jones an attractive exit package and that the timing made sense for her.
“She worked at NBC News and MSNBC for some time — she did all that already and made history,” the source said. “It’s time to go amid uncertainty.”
:Lazarus and Jones did not comment.
In her memo, Jones wrote that Lazarus has asked her to stay on for a few more months “to help guide the network during this transitional period.”
Lazarus had nothing but praise for Jones in his own memo to shell-shocked staffers, crediting her for having “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, and I am grateful that she will continue to support us during this transition,” he added.
The rabid anti-Trump network has been saddled with declining viewership since Vice President Kamala Harris was handily defeated in the Nov. 5 election.
Network brass on Monday raced to rush its biggest and highest-paid star, Rachel Maddow, back on the air five days a week during the first 100 days of the second Trump administration.
Maddow had reduced her schedule to just once a week on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
This temporary schedule will continue until April 30, after which Maddow will revert to her current Monday-only routine.
Alex Wagner, who hosts the 9 p.m. hour from Tuesday to Friday, will undertake various assignments during the first 100 days of the administration.
After April 30, Wagner will return to her normal schedule.
During Jones’ tenure, she helped MSNBC surpass CNN as the second-most watched all-news cable channel, behind Fox News.
Fox News and The Post share common ownership.
