Exciting changes are happening at NBCUniversal! Donna Langley, the former Chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, is now overseeing all of the company’s entertainment divisions, including film and TV. Susan Rovner, the Chairman of Entertainment Content for NBCUniversal’s Television and Streaming division, is leaving, while Mark Lazarus and Frances Berwick are being promoted.
, These moves come as Comcast President Mike Cavanagh takes charge of the company after Jeff Shell’s departure following an investigation into sexual harassment.
, Instead of appointing a new CEO, Cavanagh will lead NBCU as President of Comcast and delegate responsibilities to four operational heads and four key corporate leaders. Donna Langley will oversee the NBCUniversal Studio Group, Mark Lazarus will run the NBCUniversal Media Group, Cesar Conde will lead the expanded NBCU News Group, and Mark Woodbury will oversee the Universal Destinations & Experiences Group.
, Susan Rovner, the former President of Warner Bros. TV, joined NBCUniversal in October 2020 and has worked closely with Frances Berwick. She was responsible for programming across various networks and oversaw the development and current programming teams. Frances Berwick has been promoted to Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, where she will oversee original content across broadcast, cable, and Peacock. Pearlena Igbokwe will continue to lead the four television studios. Note From Mike Cavanagh, Dear Colleagues,, It has been two and a half months since I stepped in to lead NBCUniversal, and I want to thank all of you and the leadership team for keeping the business humming during this time. I’ve had the privilege of spending time with many of you as I visited with all of our businesses. I’ rnrnI’ve been completely immersed in the day-to-day operations of NBCU, and it has only reinforced what I already knew – NBCU is an extraordinary place with endless opportunities ahead. Let me share some of my specific observations:
There’s no denying that consumer trends like cord cutting and new competitors, especially from the technology sector, pose challenges for us. However, I firmly believe that we have the right business strategy, strong management depth, and financial strength to come out as long-term winners and creators of value as the media landscape evolves.
With that goal in mind, I’m thrilled to announce a new leadership structure for NBCU that capitalizes on the strengths of our leadership team and the power of the entire business. Instead of appointing a new CEO, I will continue to lead NBCU as President of Comcast. I will entrust a core leadership team to work alongside me in pursuit of the opportunities I mentioned earlier. This team will consist of four operational heads: Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus, Cesar Conde, and Mark Woodbury, as well as four key corporate leaders: Kimberley Harris, Anand Kini, Adam Miller, and Craig Robinson. This new structure will streamline our decision-making process and foster even greater collaboration across the company.
As part of this new structure, we will establish the NBCUniversal Studio Group under the leadership of Donna Langley, the NBCUniversal Media Group under Mark Lazarus, and an expanded NBCU News Group under Cesar Conde. Additionally, the Universal Destinations & Experiences Group, led by Mark Woodbury, will continue its rapid growth.
Donna Langley will take on the role of Chairman, NBCUniversal Studio Group & Chief Content Officer. In this position, Donna will oversee a unified content strategy across the entire NBCUniversal portfolio, bringing together our Film and Television Studios. She will leverage her extensive relationships with the creative community to unlock a seamless cross-portfolio creative strategy.
Mark Lazarus will become Chairman, NBCUniversal Media Group. He will be responsible for running our TV and Streaming platforms, distribution, and monetization. Mark’s experience in television, sports, and advertising sales will be crucial to the long-term growth of NBCUniversal’s media business.
Frances Berwick will be elevated to Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, a newly formed role reporting to both Mark Lazarus and Donna Langley. Frances will oversee original content across broadcast, cable, and Peacock, in addition to her current responsibilities running our linear entertainment networks.
Cesar Conde will expand his role as Chairman, NBCUniversal News Group to include overseeing NBCUniversal Local and the NBCU Telemundo Enterprises Group. Cesar’s leadership has made the NBCU News Group the most-watched news organization in the country. His expanded role will enable even more growth and collaboration across the division.
Mark Woodbury will continue as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences. He will lead the charge in expanding our growing Destinations & Experiences business, including exciting projects like Epic Universe and new experiences in Frisco, TX, and Las Vegas, NV.
These changes reflect our commitment to staying ahead of the curve and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead. I am confident that with this new leadership structure, NBCU will continue to thrive and shape the future of media.
