MSNBC announces major shake up in final attempt to fix failing network before Trump returns

MSNBC President Rashida Jones has left the company following a tough election season where the network struggled for viewership. 

Jones announced her departure to staffers on Tuesday, saying she was leaving the network after four years at the helm. 

‘I shared this decision with Mark (Lazarus), who has been incredibly supportive and has asked me to stay on for the next few months to help guide the network during this transitional period,’ she wrote. 

Lazarus is set to become the CEO of NBCUniversal’s new ‘SpinCo’ venture, where Comcast will separate its TV channel business from the rest of the NBC umbrella. 

The move comes as MSNBC braces for Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, with his election victory marking a period where the network lost significant traction with viewers. 

Insiders told Variety that Jones decided to leave after ‘an intense cycle’, with star anchor Rachel Maddow set to return to a five-night hosting schedule after viewership returns saw MSNBC lose ground to rivals CNN and Fox News. 

Lazarus said following Jones’ announcement that Rebecca Kutler will step in as interim president of MSNBC, effective immediately. 

‘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,’ Lazarus wrote. 

Jones reportedly decided to leave after ‘an intense cycle’, with star anchor Rachel Maddow set to return to a five-night hosting schedule after viewership returns saw MSNBC lose ground to rivals CNN and Fox News