NBCUniversal is set to undergo major changes in its C-suite and in its TV business, with the company reorganizing its executive ranks in connection with its plan to spin off most of its cable networks.
One big winner will be NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley, who will take on added responsibility as chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios, according to a memo from Comcast president Mike Cavanagh to staff Wednesday morning.
The company also changed roles for other top leaders at the company. Matt Strauss, the head of Comcast’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) business, was named chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, overseeing such areas as sports, ad sales, and distribution while continuing to run direct-to-consumer. And veteran communications chief Adam Miller will become COO of NBCUniversal.
Cesar Conde will lose oversight of CNBC, but will work with Comcast president Mike Cavanagh “on other growth opportunities for NBCUniversal,” per the memo from Cavanagh. Universal Experiences chief Mark Woodbury; NBCU chief diversity officer Craig Robinson; and general counsel Kim Harris will continue in their current roles.
Last year Langley — the only woman to run a major legacy Hollywood studio — was elevated to her chief content officer role, a job that gave her purview over television and streaming, in addition to film.
News that Langley has been promoted to chair of NBCU Entertainment and Studios solidifies and expands last year’s promotion. As Mark Lazarus departs to run the spin-off cable venture, she will “lead greenlight decisions across the NBCU enterprise and have full oversight of all entertainment programming and marketing across Peacock, Bravo, and NBC — including primetime and late night — and will continue to oversee the global creative strategy, business operations, production, acquisitions, marketing, and distribution for our portfolio of award-winning Film and Television Studios,” per Cavanagh’s memo.
Langley’s meteoric rise at NBCU comes after overseeing one of the most impressive winning streaks in the history of Universal’s storied film studio.
She served for nearly a decade as chairman of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. Last year, the film studio even beat Disney in domestic market share, fueled by Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Christopher Nolan’s best picture winner and box office juggernaut Oppenheimer (the talent savvy studio boss succeeded in winning over Nolan after he abruptly parted was with Warner Bros.; he’s also making his next film for Universal). She also found a way to keep the Fast & Furious franchise alive and thriving. Langley is also a driving force the Thanksgiving tentpole Wicked, the first of two movies that bring the hit Broadway musical to the big screen.
Under the cable split that was also announecd today, MSNBC, CNBC, Syfy, E!, Oxygen, Golf Channel and USA Network will be spun out into the new publicly-traded company, which will be run by Mark Lazarus, who will become its CEO. Comcast will retain ownership of NBC, Peacock, and Bravo, which produces many popular reality shows that also work on the streaming platform.
Comcast first floated the cable spinoff just a few weeks ago, but the announcement Wednesday suggests that plans moved quicker than first anticipated.
Georg Szalai contributed to this report.