Jeff Shell is leaving as chief govt of NBCUniversal after an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct with a feminine colleague, dad or mum firm Comcast stated on Sunday.
Shell, who has served as the highest govt of the media community since January 2020, stated in an announcement supplied by Comcast that he “had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company”. Comcast stated his dismissal comes after an investigation led by exterior counsel.
A 19-year veteran of the corporate, Shell oversaw a sprawling empire at NBCUniversal, starting from the NBC tv networks to the Universal movie studios and resorts. In current years he has grappled with the problem of elevating subscriptions on the Peacock streaming service, which has reached greater than 20mn prospects however lags far behind Netflix and Disney Plus.
Shell’s crew — which incorporates Universal chair Donna Langley and Mark Lazarus, head of the tv and streaming enterprise — will now report back to Mike Cavanagh, Comcast’s president.
People who’ve labored with Shell say he had lengthy loved the belief of Brian Roberts, Comcast chair and CEO. In a memo to employees seen by the FT, Roberts stated he was “disappointed” to share the information of Shell’s departure. He added that workers ought to have the ability to rely on “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,” Roberts wrote within the memo, which was additionally signed by Cavanagh.
Shell’s departure follows different high-profile dismissals at NBC. In 2020, Universal vice-chair Ron Meyer was fired after confessing to creating a settlement with a girl over a consensual affair. Matt Lauer, as soon as the face of US morning information staple the Today present, was fired in 2017 after claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour with staffers.
