Rashida Jones will succeed Phil Griffin as president of MSNBC, making her the first Black executive to lead one of the major cable news networks.
“Rashida knows and understands MSNBC, in part because it’s where she started when she first joined NBCU seven years ago. She knows that it is the people who work here that make it great, and she understands its culture. She also appreciates the impact and potential of the brand,” NBC News Group chairman Cesar Conde wrote in a memo to staff announcing the move.
Jones is the current senior vice president for NBC News and MSNBC where she leads breaking news and major events coverage. She will officially begin her new role as president on Feb. 1.
Jones is not to be confused with actor and writer Rashida Jones, who appeared in TV shows “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office” and the movie “I Love You Man.”
