NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell is leaving his position, effective immediately, after an internal investigation into his professional conduct.
Summary
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell is leaving his position, effective immediately, after an internal investigation into his professional conduct.
- Shell acknowledged in a statement that he “had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret.”
- The media executive continued, ““I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege.”
- Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, said his departure was “mutually agreed” by Shell and the company, where he had worked since 2004.
- Shell took over as CEO in 2020 and he oversaw the Universal movie and television business, theme parks and the Peacock streaming service.
- The New York Times reported Brian Roberts, the CEO of Comcast, told NBCUniversal’s senior management that they would now report to Michael Cavanagh, the president of Comcast. In effect, Cavanagh will run NBCUniversal until a permanent replacement for Shell is found.
- NBC News noted “Comcast did not specify in a statement how Shell violated company policy.” In a statement, Comcast leadership said: ““We built this company on a culture of integrity… nothing is more important than how we treat each other. You should count on your leaders to create a safe and respectful workplace. When our principles and policies are violated, we will always move quickly to take appropriate action, as we have done here.”
- According to CNN, there is no search process underway for Shell’s successor. Additionally, Comcast will report its first quarter earnings on Thursday in the company’s first major financial update since Shell’s departure.
- The Wall Street Journal reported Shell’s “stunning fall” began after the woman involved “lodged a complaint with the company,” kicking off the internal investigation that ended in Shell’s ouster.
- The New York Post identified the woman Shell had an affair with as Hadley Gamble, an anchor and senior international correspondent for the network. Shell, who is married, and Gamble carried on their affair on and off for 11 years.
- Fox News noted Shell’s departure comes after the ouster of top NBCUniversal executive Ron Meyer, “who left the company in 2020 after admitting he paid off a woman who tried to extort him for a “consensual” affair he had years earlier.”
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© Dominic Moore, 2023
