Rebecca Kutler Named President Of MSNBC After Serving In Interim Role

Rebecca Kutler has been named president of MSNBC, after leading the cable network on an interim basis following Rashida Jones’ departure last month.

Kutler takes the helm of the network at a key moment: MSNBC will be spun off from Comcast, along with other cable channels, in a transaction expected to be completed by the end of the year. That leaves a question as to how the network will handle being separated from NBC News, which will remain part of Comcast.

Mark Lazurus, who is leading the Comcast spinoff company, wrote in a memo to employees, “Since joining the network, Rebecca has played a pivotal role in the development of many of the network’s recent program launches, has been a driving force behind MSNBC’s nonlinear growth and strategic investments, and has introduced new and innovative audience-focused products. By constructing a first-rate newsgathering operation and assessing what’s required to be competitive in the marketplace, Rebecca and the team will ensure that MSNBC continues to be indispensable to our audiences and our partners.

“This is an exciting moment as we build our new company’s operation, and it has been a pleasure working with Rebecca over the last few months. I am thrilled to have such a respected leader at the helm of MSNBC during such a pivotal moment.”

More to come.