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

After weeks of speculation, Donna Langley — who took on the role as chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios after a corporate shuffle in November — unveiled her executive structure on Thursday, while Matt Strauss shared his new setup as the recently named chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.

As long rumored, under Langley’s division (which has been formed now as “Universal Television Entertainment Group”), Universal Studio Group chairman Pearlena Igbokwe is taking on oversight of NBC Entertainment and Peacock’s scripted programming in addition to her studio duties. Her NBC Entertainment domain will include scripted, unscripted, late-night, live events and specials, as well as all scripted originals for Peacock, on top of her direct reports from Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios.

As part of the change, current NBCUniversal Entertainment chair Frances Berwick is shifting her focus back to Bravo, a brand she helped build into a pop culture giant, in addition to overseeing unscripted for Peacock. As chairman, Bravo and Peacock unscripted, that will include documentaries and true crime fare for Peacock in addition to the Bravo content that thrives on the streamer. That means another major change involves the exit of Corie Henson, who has served as executive VP of unscripted content, competition and game shows for NBCUniversal Entertainment since 2022.

Langley has also tapped Jenny Storms to serve as chief marketing officer of NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, handling “brand strategy, integrated marketing, media and consumer engagement for all entertainment content and sports, including content and brand marketing for Peacock.” Peacock marketing had previously been overseen by CMO Shannon Willett, who has shifted to a new position as chief commercial officer of the NBCU Media Group under Strauss.

Additionally, Langley has tapped Liz Jenkins as chief business officer, overseeing content strategy, TV acquisitions, strategy and business operations across the entertainment and studio groups.

Igbokwe, Berwick, Jenkins and Storms will collaborate with a senior team that also includes Jimmy Horowitz, chairman, business affairs & operations; Pete Levinsohn, chairman, global distribution; Lissa Freed, head of people & culture; Evan Langweiler, executive vice president, global communications; Chris Miller, general counsel; and Adam Moysey, chief financial officer.

“This new structure will bring together our television studios, NBC Entertainment, Bravo and Peacock programming as one cohesive organization, bolstered by fully integrated marketing and content strategy teams,” Langley wrote in her memo to staff. (Read it in full below.) “It is designed to enhance collaboration, streamline decision making, and amplify our ability to deliver world-class television experiences to audiences everywhere.”  

Langley’s ascension to sole greenlight power over content and marketing spending across film, TV and streaming (including NBC, Bravo and Peacock) came after Comcast announced plans to spin off most of the NBCUniversal cable networks — USA, MSNBC, CNBC, E!, Oxygen, Syfy and Golf Channel — into a separate organization (currently nicknamed “SpinCo”). It also comes as Mark Lazarus, who had previously overseen marketing, business affairs and scheduling for the NBCU Entertainment units, has now moved on to run SpinCo.

The new company will take about a year to separate from the rest of NBCU. But in the meantime, the new units run by Langley and Strauss, who will oversee Peacock, NBC Sports, ad sales, distribution, research and affiliate relations — is continuing to shake out.

Earlier this month, for example, Kelly Campbell stepped down from her role as president of Peacock and direct-to-consumer at NBCUniversal. Also exiting is Matt Bond, head of content distribution for NBCUniversal, who announced his retirement earlier this month. Annie Luo, who has served NBCU’s Peacock as executive VP, global partnerships and strategic development since 2022, is departing, as is longtime strategic communications pro Allison Rawlings, who is remaining with the company through March to help with transition on the communications side as the Media Group role moves to New York. Christy Shibata, the CFO of NBCUniversal Media Group, is moving 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 named president, platform distribution & partnerships, overssing content distribution, affiliate relations and strategic partnerships across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo and various FAST channels.

· Rick Cordella continues as president, NBC Sports.

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

· Earl Marshall is named chief financial officer and EVP, strategy, NBCU Media Group, managing the business in partnership with entertainment and studio teams.

· Jim Denney’s duties remain the same but his title changes to chief product officer, global streaming & NBCU Media Group.

· Patrick Miceli continues in current role, with title change to chief technology officer, global streaming & NBCU Media Group.

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

· Courtney Rowe joins the team EVP, corporate & NBCU Media Group communications, reporting to Strauss and Jen Friedman.

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

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

Meanwhile, COO Adam Miller announced that Jen Friedman has been promoted to chief communications officer. Also, corporate social responsibility will continue to be led by Hilary Smith, and corporate events, which will now be led by Pauline Lord, will also report to Friedman, as will Chip Sullivan, who is taking on a new role as EVP, corporate initiatives.

Langley’s decision to put Igbokwe in charge of both network and studio returns NBC to an entertainment structure that kept both sides vertically integrated under the same full oversight — something in the last decade execs like Bob Greenblatt, Paul Teledgy and George Cheeks handled at NBCU.

Igbokwe has served as chairman of Universal Studio Group since 2020, overseeing four television studios: Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios. Before that, she spent four years as president of Universal TV and also worked at NBC Entertainment as executive VP of drama. Her tenure at NBCU began in 2012 after a successful two-decade run at Showtime. Igbokwe has long been seen as a star at NBCU, having built USG into a powerhouse with both long-running hits like Dick Wolf’s “Law & Order,” “One Chicago” and “FBI”-branded series, as well as newcomers such as Emmy-winning “Hacks.”  

As for Berwick, in focusing her attention on Peacock unscripted and Bravo, it’s a reminder of how important that network has become to NBCU. While the company was fine with spinning off the rest of its cablers, Bravo is still humming with original fare, and its lineup has helped fuel Peacock with megahits like “Vanderpump Rules.” Berwick has been instrumental in the evolution of Bravo, having first joined the network in 1996. Under her watch, the channel evolved — first with “Inside the Actors Studio,” and then “Queer Eye,” “Project Runway” and “Top Chef,” and then eventually with its Bravolebrity formats. 

As for Henson, the exec’s oversight included reality competition, talent competition and game show formats across NBCU Entertainment, including NBC’s “Deal or No Deal Island,” “America’s Got Talent,” “The Voice” and “Password,” and Peacock’s “The Traitors.” She joined NBC after a stint as head of unscripted for TNT, TBS and TruTV. As executive vice president of alternative entertainment for Fox, she worked on 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:

Earlier today, Donna Langley and Matt Strauss shared updates on their leadership teams and organizational structures for the NBCU Entertainment & Studios and Media Groups respectively. As we work through the SpinCo transition and continue to position NBCUniversal for future growth, I’m excited about the teams and structures that Matt and Donna are building. In my experience, when you put great people into important roles, you rarely go wrong, and that is exactly what has happened here.

I also want to share the news that we have promoted Jen Friedman to the position of Chief Communications Officer. I have worked closely with Jen over the last three years, and her intelligence, energy, and leadership skills have impressed me since her first day here. Jen is highly respected both externally and internally. She plays a vital role advising Mike and me, and in helping tell the story of the incredible work happening across the company.

Going forward, Jen will continue to oversee communications globally across NBCUniversal, working closely with corporate as well as the business units. In addition, Corporate Social Responsibility, which will continue to be led by Hilary Smith, and Corporate Events, which will now be led by Pauline Lord following Blaise’s retirement, will also report to Jen, as will Chip Sullivan, who is taking on a new role as EVP, Corporate Initiatives.

I want to thank all of you for your continued hard work and focus on our important company priorities during this year of exciting transition.

From Donna Langley:

Team,

Following the recent announcement of the SpinCo leadership team, Matt Strauss and I have been working together to present a clear vision moving forward that will allow NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios and the NBCUniversal Media Group to collaborate most effectively moving forward.  Matt is announcing his leadership team today, and I am excited to share that we will be forming a new Universal Television Entertainment Group, building on the strength of leaders already in place across our television portfolio.

This new structure will bring together our Television Studios, NBC Entertainment, Bravo and Peacock programming as one cohesive organization, bolstered by fully integrated Marketing and Content Strategy teams.  It is designed to enhance collaboration, streamline decision making, and amplify our ability to deliver world-class television experiences to audiences everywhere.  

This group will be led by Frances Berwick, Pearlena Igbokwe, Liz Jenkins and Jenny Storms.  Their respective areas of responsibility are outlined as follows, with each reporting to me: 

The current Entertainment & Studios HQ team will be working closely with this new television entertainment leadership team to align functional areas in the coming weeks.  This senior leadership team includes Jimmy Horowitz, Chairman, Business Affairs & Operations; Pete Levinsohn, Chairman, Global Distribution; Lissa Freed, Head of People & Culture; Evan Langweiler, Executive Vice President, Global Communications; Chris Miller, General Counsel; and Adam Moysey, Chief Financial Officer.

As you can see, the formation of this group is a testament to the incredible talent we have here at NBCUniversal.  With our shared vision and combined expertise, we are poised to lead our dynamic industry in creativity and innovation, and seize growth opportunities for our business while delighting audiences across all platforms. 

I also want to extend my deepest appreciation to all the teams working tirelessly as we begin transitioning toward the future structure of NBCUniversal.  Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to share more updates as we work alongside the team planning for SpinCo. This transition will take some time and we appreciate your patience as we stay focused on delivering our current priorities.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our success. Together, we’re building something extraordinary. 

From Matt Strauss:

Following recent company announcements, Donna Langley and I have put a lot of thought into how we set up our Media business for the future. Today, I’m announcing my leadership team for the NBCU Media Group, and Donna is updating her team on the NBCU Entertainment and Studios structure. We’re excited to partner in a way that positions our brands for long-term success, maximizes stakeholder value and drives continued growth across the portfolio.

Over the past few years, we have come together as Media Group by building bridges with our teams, our portfolio and the greater company. We have a strong foundation and an outstanding leadership team to take us forward. They will help guide us in our new structure, which leans into our strong businesses and platforms while reimagining some of our functions to double down on growth and innovation. I’m excited to welcome our new Media Group leadership team, a group of exceptionally talented and inspiring individuals. Our leadership team will report to me and all new roles are effective immediately.

· 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, leading day-to-day strategy and execution for Peacock, driving subscriber growth and competitive positioning, plus cross-business initiatives for the Media Group and Peacock.

· Matt Schnaars is taking an elevated role as President, Platform Distribution & Partnerships. He is leading a new organization that brings together Content Distribution, Affiliate Relations and Strategic Partnerships across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo and various FAST channels.

· Rick Cordella will continue as President, NBC Sports.

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

· Earl Marshall is taking an expanded role as Chief Financial Officer and EVP, Strategy, NBCU Media Group. Earl’s team will holistically measure and manage our Media business in partnership with our Entertainment and Studio teams.

· Jim Denney will continue in his current role with a title change to Chief Product Officer, Global Streaming & NBCU Media Group.

· Patrick Miceli will continue in his current role with a title change to Chief Technology Officer, Global Streaming & NBCU Media Group.

· Will Gonzalez will continue as Chief Data Officer, NBCU Media Group, leading data and insights for our Media brands and stakeholders across the portfolio.

· Courtney Rowe will be joining our team as EVP, Corporate & NBCU Media Group Communications, reporting to me and Jen Friedman. Courtney will expand her current NBCU Corporate Communications role to also lead strategic communications for the Media Group internally and externally, driving our business and growth narrative and having functional oversight of our business and platform communications teams.

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

· Joanne O’Brien will step into the role of Head of NBCU Media Group HR, overseeing people and talent strategy across our businesses.

As part of our Media reorganization, Brian Henderson and our Peacock programming team will move into Entertainment and Studios.

As we look forward, I want to recognize several leaders who have driven our portfolio success and Peacock’s momentum. Matt Bond has been a remarkable leader at Comcast NBCUniversal for more than two decades, contributing billions in revenue. His expertise, relationships, and signature wit have been a gift to our teams; we look forward to working with him in his advisor capacity and wish him the best of luck on his retirement. Kelly Campbell has been a champion for our Peacock brand and values over the past three years and we’re grateful for her contributions to our streaming journey. Annie Luo has been instrumental to our Peacock growth agenda, and her spirit and strategic leadership will be greatly missed as she moves onto opportunities outside of the Media Group. As part of the restructure, we redefined the Media Group communications role and relocated the position to New York; Allison Rawlings, who has been a trusted strategic communications partner across our television business, will work with Courtney as well as the NBCU Entertainment and Studios team on the transition. Christy Shibata has done an exceptional job driving our finance function forward and will now partner with Mark Lazarus and Anand Kini to support a successful transition to SpinCo.

Following today’s announcement, Media Group leaders will follow up with their teams to discuss these changes, and on January 30 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT I will host a virtual All Hands to review our structure and 2025 goals. In the coming weeks, Donna and I will share our vision for the Media business and how we can collaborate effectively to drive success for our networks, platforms and key stakeholders.

Throughout my career, I’ve always been passionate about opportunities to build the future of media, and today’s changes are how we can continue transforming our Media business, in partnership with Entertainment and Studios. I’m excited by the possibilities ahead – let’s go!