Rebecca Kutler, who serves as the president of MSNBC, has received a breast cancer diagnosis. However, she is optimistic about her recovery and anticipates a short absence of just a few weeks, as confirmed by the network.
On Wednesday morning, Kutler shared the news of her diagnosis with MSNBC staff during an editorial meeting. Prior to this, she had communicated her situation to executives at NBCUniversal and MSNBC, along with the network’s leading anchors.
CNN was the first to report on Kutler’s cancer diagnosis. The mother of three emphasized the importance of self-care to her team, urging them to prioritize their well-being amid the ongoing unprecedented news cycle, according to CNN’s Brian Stelter.
Kutler, a veteran of CNN, was appointed the president of MSNBC in February, taking over from Rashida Jones, who had been at the helm of the progressive network since 2021.
Currently, MSNBC is undergoing notable transformations, including becoming part of Versant, a new entity that will encompass most of NBCUniversal’s cable channels, with the deal expected to finalize by the year’s end in 2025.
The rebranding will see MSNBC transition to “MS NOW” (My Source for News Opinion and the World) and retire its iconic peacock logo. Additionally, MSNBC and NBC News are beginning to operate independently; from October 6, domestic and international NBC News will no longer be featured on MSNBC. NBC News correspondents located in Washington, D.C., may continue to make appearances up to October 20, after which MSNBC will take charge of its own news coverage and editorial standards.
Versant’s CEO Mark Lazarus highlighted Kutler’s strategic vision and leadership capabilities when he announced her as MSNBC’s president earlier this year, stating she is well-equipped to uphold the network’s brand promise and drive growth amidst the evolving media landscape.
Kutler joined MSNBC as senior vice president of content strategy in 2022, following an extensive tenure at CNN. In her previous role, she served as an executive producer for notable figures like Don Lemon and John King, and was instrumental in the rise of talents like Abby Phillip, Van Jones, Chris Wallace, Audie Cornish, and Kasie Hunt at CNN. She was also set to take on a major position at CNN+, the streaming service that was halted shortly after its launch by Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company.
