NBCUniversal’s Donna Langley and Matt Strauss Unveil New Exec Structures; New Roles for Pearlena Igbokwe and Frances Berwick

by

Following several weeks of anticipation, I found myself stepping into my new role as Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios, following a corporate reorganization in November. On Thursday, I revealed my executive team structure. Additionally, Matt Strauss, freshly appointed as the Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, did the same by sharing his newly established setup.

Following persistent speculation, the division previously known as Langley’s (now rebranded as “Universal Television Entertainment Group”) has given Pearlena Igbokwe additional responsibilities. Specifically, she will now oversee NBC Entertainment and scripted programming for Peacock, in addition to her existing studio duties. Her new domain at NBC Entertainment encompasses scripted, unscripted, late-night shows, live events, and specials, as well as all scripted originals for Peacock. Furthermore, she will manage the staff reporting directly to her from Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio, and Universal International Studios.

In this transition, Frances Berwick, formerly the chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, is returning her attention to Bravo, a network she played a significant role in shaping into a pop culture powerhouse. Moreover, she will also be responsible for overseeing unscripted content at Peacock. As chairman of both Bravo and Peacock’s unscripted division, she will manage documentaries and true crime shows intended for Peacock, as well as the popular Bravo content already available on the streaming platform. This adjustment also brings about the departure of Corie Henson, who has been with NBCUniversal Entertainment since 2022, serving as executive VP of unscripted content, competition, and game shows.

Langley appointed Jenny Storms as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, where she will manage brand strategy, marketing integration, media, and consumer engagement across all entertainment content and sports. This includes marketing responsibilities for Peacock, a role previously overseen by Shannon Willett, who has moved to a new position as Chief Commercial Officer within the NBCU Media Group under Strauss.

Moreover, Liz Jenkins has been appointed as the head of business affairs at Langley, responsible for managing content strategies, purchasing TV content, and devising and executing overall strategic and operational plans within the entertainment and studio departments.

Igbokwe, Berwick, Jenkins, and Storms will work together with a senior group that consists of Jimmy Horowitz, who heads business affairs and operations, Pete Levinsohn in charge of global distribution, Lissa Freed as the head of people and culture, Evan Langweiler for global communications, Chris Miller as the general counsel, and Adam Moysey as the chief financial officer.

or simply:

Igbokwe, Berwick, Jenkins, and Storms will join forces with a senior team including Jimmy Horowitz (business affairs & operations), Pete Levinsohn (global distribution), Lissa Freed (people & culture), Evan Langweiler (global communications), Chris Miller (general counsel), and Adam Moysey (chief financial officer).

In a memo to the team, Langley outlined a plan to unite our TV studios, NBC Entertainment, Bravo, and Peacock content under one collaborative organization. This restructuring will feature tightly aligned marketing and content strategy groups for smoother collaboration, quicker decision-making, and ultimately, improving our capacity to offer top-tier television entertainment to viewers worldwide.

After Comcast revealed plans to separate most of its NBCUniversal cable channels (like USA, MSNBC, CNBC, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, and Golf Channel) into a different company (temporarily called “SpinCo”), Langley assumed full control over content and marketing budgets for film, TV, and streaming (including NBC, Bravo, and Peacock). This shift occurred as Mark Lazarus, who previously managed marketing, business affairs, and scheduling for the NBCU Entertainment divisions, has now transitioned to lead SpinCo.

The newly established company is expected to become independent from NBCU within approximately a year. During this transitional period, the departments managed by Langley and Strauss, responsible for Peacock, NBC Sports, advertising, distribution, research, and affiliate relations, are undergoing restructuring.

Recently this month, Kelly Campbell resigned from her position as president of Peacock and direct-to-consumer at NBCUniversal. Similarly, Matt Bond, who held the role of head of content distribution for NBCUniversal, announced his retirement this month. Annie Luo, who has been with NBCU’s Peacock as executive VP, global partnerships and strategic development since 2022, is also leaving, along with Allison Rawlings, a longtime strategic communications professional. Christy Shibata, the CFO of NBCUniversal Media Group, is transferring to SpinCo.

Here are Strauss’ other appointments:

• Mark Marshall will continue as chairman, global advertising & partnerships.

· Shannon Willett will take a new business role as chief commercial officer of the Media Group

Matt Schnaars has been appointed as the President, managing content distribution, affiliate relationships, and strategic partnerships for NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo, and several Fast Channels. In this role, he will oversee these areas.

· Rick Cordella continues as president, NBC Sports.

· Ken Bettsteller continues as president, international networks & DTC.

Earl Marshall has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Strategy at NBCU Media Group. In this role, he will collaborate closely with the entertainment and studio teams to oversee the company’s operations.

Jim Denney’s responsibilities stay consistent, however, his position has been updated to Chief Product Officer for Global Streaming and NBCU Media Group.

Patrick Miceli maintains his existing position, but his title is now updated to Chief Technology Officer for Global Streaming and NBCUniversal Media Group.

· Will Gonzalez continues as chief data officer, NBCU Media Group

Courtney Rowe has become a new member of our team, taking on the role of Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications within the NBCU Media Group, under the supervision of Strauss and Jen Friedman.

· Andra Shapiro continues as general counsel, NBCU Media Group.

· Joanne O’Brien named head of NBCU Media Group HR.

Currently, COO Adam Miller made an announcement. He shared that Jen Friedman has been promoted to the position of chief communications officer within our organization. Meanwhile, Hilary Smith will remain in charge of corporate social responsibility. Additionally, Pauline Lord will now lead corporate events, and these events will report directly to Friedman as well. Lastly, Chip Sullivan is stepping into a new role as Executive Vice President for Corporate Initiatives, and his responsibilities will also be under Jen Friedman’s supervision.

Langley’s move to have Igbokwe oversee both the network and studio operations brings NBC back to a management structure where entertainment aspects are under one comprehensive supervision, similar to how executives like Bob Greenblatt, Paul Telegdy, and George Cheeks managed NBCUniversal in recent years.

Since the year 2020, Igbokwe has been leading Universal Studio Group in her role as chairman. During this time, she’s managed four television studios: Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio, and Universal International Studios. Before assuming this position, she served for four years as president of Universal TV and spent time at NBC Entertainment as the executive vice president of drama. Igbokwe joined NBCU in 2012 following a highly successful 20-year career at Showtime. Within NBCU, she is widely regarded as a shining star, having transformed USG into a dominant force in television. Under her leadership, USG has produced long-running hits like “Law & Order,” the “One Chicago” series, and the “FBI” franchise, as well as breakout shows such as the Emmy-winning “Hacks.

Concurrently, directing Berwick’s gaze towards Peacock, Bravo serves as a testament to its significance within NBCU. Despite the company’s readiness to divest from other cable channels, Bravo remains vibrant with original content, significantly contributing to Peacock’s success through shows like “Vanderpump Rules.” Berwick has played a pivotal role in shaping Bravo since joining the network in 1996. During her tenure, the channel transformed — starting with “Inside the Actors Studio,” followed by “Queer Eye,” “Project Runway,” and “Top Chef,” and eventually into its Bravolebrity formats.

Regarding Henson, her supervisory role encompassed various formats such as reality competitions, talent contests, and game shows within NBCU Entertainment. This scope included shows like “Deal or No Deal Island” on NBC, “America’s Got Talent,” “The Voice,” and “Password,” along with Peacock’s “The Traitors.” She transitioned to NBC from her role as head of unscripted programming for TNT, TBS, and TruTV. In her position as Executive Vice President of Alternative Entertainment at Fox, she was involved in shows like “The Masked Singer.

Here are the memos from Miller, Langley and Strauss that were sent to staff on Thursday:

From Adam Miller, COO, NBCUniversal:

This afternoon, Donna Langley and Matt Strauss revealed changes in their respective leadership teams and organizational frameworks for NBCU Entertainment & Studios and Media Groups. As we navigate the SpinCo transition and strive to set NBCUniversal up for future expansion, I’m thrilled about the teams and structures that Matt and Donna are constructing. From my perspective, when you assign talented individuals to key positions, it seldom leads to errors, and that is precisely what has occurred here.

I’m thrilled to pass along that we’ve elevated Jen Friedman to the post of Chief Communications Officer. Over the past three years, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with her, and I’ve been consistently impressed by her intellect, enthusiasm, and leadership abilities from day one. Jen is admired not only by those outside our organization but also within it. She offers invaluable guidance to Mike and me, and she’s instrumental in sharing the inspiring stories of the outstanding work being done across the company.

Moving forward, Jen will maintain her global communications responsibilities at NBCUniversal, collaborating with both corporate and business divisions. Furthermore, Hilary Smith will continue to spearhead Corporate Social Responsibility, while Pauline Lord, in the wake of Blaise’s retirement, will now manage Corporate Events. Additionally, Chip Sullivan is assuming a new position as EVP, Corporate Initiatives, and will also report to Jen.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for the unwavering dedication and keen focus on our vital company goals amidst this thrilling period of transformation. Your tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed!

From Donna Langley:

Team,

Since the unveiling of the SpinCo executive committee, Matt Strauss and I have been brainstorming to articulate a coherent plan for the future that will ensure optimal collaboration between NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios and NBCUniversal Media Group. Today, Matt is revealing his leadership team, and I am thrilled to disclose that we are in the process of establishing a revamped Universal Television Entertainment Group, leveraging the talent we already have within our television division.

In my latest review, I’m excited to share the news about a significant change in the TV landscape. This new setup unites our Television Studios, NBC Entertainment, Bravo, and Peacock programming under one roof, creating a harmonious entity. The transformation is further strengthened by combined Marketing and Content Strategy teams, working together seamlessly.

The aim? To boost collaboration, expedite decision-making, and ultimately amplify our capacity to deliver top-notch TV experiences to viewers across the globe. This reorganization promises a more cohesive and efficient approach to television production, ensuring that we continue to bring you the best content possible!

This team will be overseen by Frances Berwick, Pearlena Igbokwe, Liz Jenkins, and Jenny Storms. Here’s a breakdown of their individual responsibilities:

1. Frances Berwick: Her domain of expertise is clearly defined.
2. Pearlena Igbokwe: She will handle her designated tasks as specified.
3. Liz Jenkins: Her area of focus has been clearly outlined.
4. Jenny Storms: Her role and responsibilities are clearly demarcated.

Each of them reports directly to me.

  • Frances Berwick assumes the role of Chairman, Bravo & Peacock Unscripted, where she will continue to oversee first run syndication and unscripted programming across Bravo and Peacock including documentaries, true crime, and tentpoles such as Emmy winner The Traitors and Love Island. Frances has been an integral part of the legacy of Bravo which in turn has become essential to our growth strategy.  Bravo houses some of the most talked about series on the planet and its superfan base continues to grow year-over-year and is expanding into new markets with sold-out events such as BravoCon.  
  • Pearlena Igbokwe has been named Chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted.  In this role Pearlena will continue to lead Universal Studio Group overseeing our world-class library of television series from Universal Television, UCP, Universal International Studios and Universal Television Alternative Studio.  The studio’s slate includes the award-winning Hacks and the global hit The Day of the Jackal.  In addition, Pearlena will now oversee NBC Entertainment, including scripted, unscripted, late-night, live events and specials, as well as all scripted originals for Peacock.
  • Liz Jenkins, in her role as Chief Business Officer, will now oversee Content Strategy, TV Acquisitions, Strategy and Business Operations across the Entertainment and Studio Groups. In this capacity, Liz will shepherd process around TV & Streaming greenlight and identify emerging opportunities to drive growth.  She will also partner closely with Matt and his teams to provide connective tissue with the Media Group, organizing efforts across our functional operating teams to ensure alignment and enhance collaboration.
  • Jenny Storms becomes Chief Marketing Officer, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming and will lead the brand strategy, integrated marketing, media and consumer engagement for all entertainment content and sports, including content and brand marketing for Peacock.  In her expanded role, Jenny will partner closely with the Media Group to help shape seamless and innovative consumer engagement across the ecosystem. Jenny will also continue to transform our NBCU marketing discipline leading our company-wide Symphony efforts and chair the NBCUniversal Marketing Council.  She will build on the success of the Paris Olympics as we prepare for the much-anticipated launch of the NBA on NBC and Peacock.

Over the next few weeks, the existing Entertainment & Studios HQ team will collaborate closely with a fresh television entertainment executive team to synchronize their respective departments. This top-tier leadership group consists of Jimmy Horowitz as Chairman for Business Affairs and Operations, Pete Levinsohn as Chairman for Global Distribution, Lissa Freed serving as Head of People & Culture, Evan Langweiler as Executive Vice President for Global Communications, Chris Miller as General Counsel, and Adam Moysey in the role of Chief Financial Officer.

It’s evident that this team’s creation showcases the exceptional skills present within NBCUniversal. United by a common goal and bolstered by our collective knowledge, we are strategically positioned to pioneer creativity and technological advancements in our vibrant sector. This will enable us to capitalize on business growth prospects while keeping audiences captivated across various mediums.

I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who is working diligently as we move forward with the new organizational setup of NBCUniversal. In the upcoming weeks and months, you can expect more information about this transition, as we collaborate closely with the team responsible for SpinCo. This process may take some time, so thank you for your understanding as we prioritize our ongoing tasks.

Appreciate your ongoing dedication towards our achievement. Collaboratively, we’re constructing something truly remarkable.

From Matt Strauss:

After the recent company updates, Donna Langley and I have been deliberating about structuring our Media enterprise for future prosperity. Today, I am revealing my team for the NBCU Media Group leadership, while Donna is sharing updates on the organization structure of NBCU Entertainment and Studios. We are thrilled to collaborate in a manner that optimally positions our brands for lasting success, increases stakeholder value, and encourages sustained growth throughout the portfolio.

Over the recent years, we’ve grown as Media Group by fostering connections with our teams, our assets, and the broader company. We have a robust base and an exceptional executive team to lead us into the future. They will serve as our compass in navigating our revised organizational setup, which emphasizes our thriving businesses and technologies while reinventing certain aspects to bolster growth and creativity. I’m thrilled to introduce our newly appointed Media Group leadership team, a collection of extremely gifted and motivational individuals. Our leadership will now report directly to me, with all new positions taking effect starting today.

· Mark Marshall will continue as Chairman, Global Advertising & Partnerships.

In her upcoming professional transition, Shannon Willett has been appointed as the Chief Commercial Officer of the Media Group. In this role, she will be responsible for overseeing the daily strategic planning and execution for the streaming platform, Peacock. Her key objectives include boosting subscriber numbers, enhancing competitive edge, and orchestrating cross-business initiatives that benefit both the Media Group and Peacock.

Matt Schnaars has been promoted to the position of President for Platform Distribution & Partnerships, overseeing a unified team that encompasses Content Distribution, Affiliate Relations, and Strategic Partnerships. This new organization spans NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo, and numerous FAST channels.

Matt Schnaars has been given a higher position as President of Platform Distribution & Partnerships. He will now manage one team that takes care of Content Distribution, Affiliate Relations, and Strategic Partnerships for NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo, and several FAST channels.

· Rick Cordella will continue as President, NBC Sports.

· Ken Bettsteller will continue as President, International Networks & DTC.

Earl Marshall has been given a broader responsibility, now serving as both the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy for NBCU Media Group. His team is tasked with collaborating closely with the Entertainment and Studio teams to comprehensively evaluate and manage our media business as a whole.

In the exciting world of movies, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be carrying on with my current responsibilities, but with a fresh new Chief Product Officer for Global Streaming and NBCU Media Group. It’s an honor to continue contributing to this dynamic industry!

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be carrying on in my present position, but with an exciting new Chief Technology Officer, Global Streaming & NBCU Media Group. Can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Gonzalez will persist in his role as the Chief Data Officer at NBCU Media Group, overseeing data and insights for all our media brands and partners throughout the organization’s diverse portfolio.

Courtney Rowe is set to become part of our team as Executive Vice President (EVP) for Corporate & NBCU Media Group Communications. She will work under my supervision and that of Jen Friedman. In her new role, Courtney will broaden her existing responsibilities within NBCU Corporate Communications to include leading strategic communication efforts for the Media Group, both internally and externally. Her focus will be on advancing our business story and growth trajectory, while overseeing the operations of our business and platform communications teams.

· Andra Shapiro will continue as General Counsel, NBCU Media Group.

Joanne O’Brien is set to assume the position of Head of NBCU Media Group HR, where she will be responsible for managing the human resources strategy and talent development across all our business entities.

In the course of our Media restructuring process, Brian Henderson and his Peacock programming squad will relocate to the Entertainment and Studios division.

Moving ahead, let me acknowledge several key figures who have propelled our growth and Peacock’s progress. For over two decades, Matt Bond has been an exceptional leader at Comcast NBCUniversal, generating billions in revenue for the company. His unique blend of knowledge, connections, and quick wit has been a valuable asset to our teams; we are excited about continuing our collaboration with him in his advisory role and wish him all the best as he embarks on retirement. Kelly Campbell has been a staunch advocate for the Peacock brand and its values for the past three years, and we appreciate her impact on our streaming journey. Annie Luo has played a crucial role in our Peacock expansion plans, and her enthusiasm and strategic vision will be missed as she ventures into new opportunities outside of the Media Group.

As part of the reorganization, the Media Group communications role has been refined, and it has been moved to New York. Allison Rawlings, a trusted strategic communications partner across our television business, will collaborate with Courtney and also work with the NBCU Entertainment and Studios team during this transition period. Christy Shibata has excelled in her role driving our finance function, and she will now work alongside Mark Lazarus and Anand Kini to ensure a smooth transition to SpinCo.

After today’s declaration, the heads of Media Group will get in touch with their respective teams to talk about these modifications. On January 30 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT, I will be conducting a virtual All Hands meeting to go over our organization and objectives for 2025. In the upcoming weeks, Donna and I will reveal our plans for the Media sector and how we can work together efficiently to achieve success for our networks, platforms, and important partners.

Over the course of my professional journey, I’ve consistently been driven by chances to shape the future of media. Today, as we navigate these evolutions, it’s about further evolving our Media sector in collaboration with Entertainment and Studios. I’m thrilled about what lies ahead – let’s embark on this exciting journey together!

Read More

2025-01-23 23:19