Former Apple and AMC PR exec Bernadette Simpao has joined NBCUniversal‘s Media Group as senior vice president of strategic communications, where she will have a specific focus on streamer Peacock.
Simpao, who is based in New York, will report to NBCU Media Group exec VP of comms Allison Rawlings. She is set to work with the PR teams across NBCUniversal’s Entertainment and direct-to-consumer brands, mainly Peacock, as well as the broader team that covers NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen True Crime, Syfy, Universal Kids and USA Network.
Simpao’s hiring comes following news in early November that NBCUniversal would be laying off less than 50 employees across three divisions: Peacock marketing, NBCUniversal Entertainment and ad sales.
The majority of these cuts, approximately 30 to 40, were made at Peacock as part of a restructuring under CMO Shannon Willett.
Simpao joins NBCUniversal from Apple, where she led global public relations and communications for the Apple TV app and the company’s video and sports businesses, including its partnership with Major League Soccer and the MLS Season Pass streaming service, as well as the Apple TV 4K product and tvOS.
She first joined Apple in 2016; while there, Simpao handled the global launches of Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple One, and managed communications for other areas within Apple’s Services division, including Apple News, Apple Podcasts, Apple Books and Apple Wallet.
Prior to Apple, Simpao was vice president of corporate communications at AMC Networks, and previously served in various comms roles at Viacom from 2004 to 2014, including the international division, BET Networks and Viacom corporate.
Simpao holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and an M.S. from Columbia University.