or


[02/06/07 - 03:19 PM]
Jeff Zucker Named President and Ceo of NBC Universal Succeeding Bob Wright, Who Will Remain Vice Chairman of Ge
Zucker succeeds Bob Wright, who has served in said role for 21 years.

[via press release from NBC]

JEFF ZUCKER NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NBC UNIVERSAL SUCCEEDING BOB WRIGHT, WHO WILL REMAIN VICE CHAIRMAN OF GE

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- February 6, 2007 -- General Electric Company Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt today announced the appointment of Jeff Zucker as President and CEO of NBC Universal, succeeding Bob Wright, who has served with distinction in this role for 21 years and will continue to serve as a GE vice chairman. Zucker�s appointment is effective today.

�Jeff will succeed one of the true giants in media -- Bob Wright -- to whom we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude for helping to build this great media company,� Immelt said. �By any measure, Bob is one of the most successful media executives ever. He transformed NBC from a broadcast network into a diversified global media company. He was always able to see what was coming next, whether it was cable, satellite, Hispanic broadcasting or digital media. Bob�s strategic vision and execution kept NBC growing.�

Zucker, 41, is a 21-year veteran of NBC Universal. As president and CEO, he will have responsibility for the strategic direction and operations of all NBC Universal properties. Zucker is one of the industry�s most experienced executives and has spent much of his career working in NBC�s news, sports, and entertainment divisions. As CEO of the NBC Universal Television Group since 2005, Zucker has overseen the company�s television programming and distribution operations, which account for two-thirds of the company�s overall profits.

�Jeff Zucker is a terrific talent and the right person to guide NBC Universal on the next stage of its growth,� Immelt said. �Jeff�s 20-plus years with NBC give him deep knowledge of the company�s strategy, people and culture. In the past few years, Jeff has shown that he is an energetic, focused leader who can rise to a challenge. His creative experience, expertise in news and broadcasting and intense passion for the business were immensely appealing to the Board and to me during this succession process.

�We have real business momentum, and the time is right to make this important transition,� Immelt said. �I like the team we have in place today, and believe that the future for NBCU is bright.�

In addition to serving as a vice chairman of GE, Wright will assist with the leadership transition at NBCU.

Immelt said, �Bob Wright has been a great GE leader. I am pleased that he will continue to serve as a GE vice chairman and that I will continue to have his counsel in our executive office and boardroom on a broad array of issues.�

Zucker said, "Bob has been a terrific mentor to me throughout my career, and I am honored to be his successor and fortunate to assume responsibility of a company that is so well positioned for future growth. I�ve spent my entire career at NBC and had the privilege to work with the best in the business every day. I look forward to continuing to work with this talented management team as we take NBC Universal to the next level.�

As CEO of NBCU�s television group, Zucker has overseen the company�s news, sports, and entertainment divisions; owned-and-operated television stations; cable entertainment properties, including USA, Sci Fi, and Bravo; cable news properties, CNBC and MSNBC; Spanish language network Telemundo; and the company�s television studio, first-run syndication, and global distribution efforts. Previously, Zucker had served as president of the NBC Entertainment, News & Cable Group. Before that, he served as president of NBC Entertainment.

A five-time Emmy winner, Zucker also served as executive producer of the �Today� show, where he turned the morning news program into the single-most profitable program on television. Additionally, Zucker served as executive producer of NBC�s coverage of several major events, including the �Decision 2000� election broadcast, the 1993 and 1997 presidential inaugurations, and the Persian Gulf War. His full biography can be accessed HERE.

Zucker graduated from Harvard College in 1986 with a bachelor�s degree in American History. He served as president of The Harvard Crimson from 1985 to 1986. He and his wife, Caryn, have four children.

Under Wright�s leadership, NBC�s revenues grew from $3 billion in 1986 to more than $16 billion in 2006. During his tenure, the company expanded its ownership of broadcast television stations, launched groundbreaking cable networks such as CNBC and MSNBC, and acquired fast-growing media assets such as Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo and the arts and entertainment cable network, Bravo. In 2004, Wright led NBC�s acquisition of Vivendi Universal Entertainment, creating NBC Universal. The acquisition added such key assets as the USA Network, SciFi Channel, Universal Studios and Universal Parks in Orlando, FL and Hollywood, CA, expanding the company�s portfolio and establishing NBC Universal as a leader in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

Wright, 63, became chairman and chief executive officer of NBC Universal in May 2004 in conjunction with the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment. He became president and chief executive officer of NBC on Sept. 1, 1986, and became chairman and chief executive officer on June 4, 2001.

�It has been an honor and privilege to lead NBC Universal for the past twenty years,� Wright said. �I hand over the reins now with great pride in what we�ve accomplished and great confidence about what NBC Universal will become. We have momentum, outstanding support from GE and Vivendi, and a terrific executive in Jeff Zucker. I look forward to watching the next chapters of this wonderful company unfold under Jeff�s leadership.�

Before leading NBC, Wright served as president of General Electric Financial Services and, before that, as president of Cox Cable Communications. He has had a diversified career in general management, marketing, and broadcasting. Much of it has been with General Electric. In 2005, Wright and his wife, Suzanne, founded Autism Speaks after their grandson was diagnosed with the disorder. The nonprofit foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness about autism and funding biomedical research, has already raised more than $50 million. Wright's full bio is available HERE.

NBC Universal is 80% owned by GE and 20% owned by Vivendi. The company�s board of directors comprises senior executives from GE/NBCU and Vivendi.

***

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world�s toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

About NBCU

NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.





  [february 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[09/10/26 - 01:01 PM]
Video: NBC Debuts Official Promo & Highlights Key Art for "One Chicago"
The franchise follows the professional and personal lives of first responders and public service workers who lays themselves on the line to save and protect the citizens of the Windy City.

[09/10/26 - 01:00 PM]
CBS Announces 2026 Premiere Dates and Milestones for the #1 Daytime Lineup
The network has held its spot as the highest-rated network in daytime for 40 consecutive seasons.

[09/10/26 - 12:03 PM]
Get Unprecedented Access Inside Las Vegas' Golden Nugget Casino in "Secret Life of a Vegas Casino" - Premieres Tuesday, September 29 on Discovery Channel
Just off the chaos of busy Fremont Street, cameras capture the real-life and often shocking moments that unfold around the clock: unruly guests, high-pressure special events and the relentless efforts required to keep thousands of people safe and entertained each day.

[09/10/26 - 11:06 AM]
Video: Tubi Drops Official Trailer for New Original Horror-Comedy Film "Buzzkill"
When a group of sorority sisters find themselves trapped with a vengeful killer, party-girl Nora (Siena Agudong) knows that the drunker she gets, the more her tipsy memories start revealing clues about who's murdering her friends.

[09/10/26 - 11:06 AM]
Ovation TV to Debut the U.S. Premiere of "Murdoch Mysteries" Season 20 on October 5
Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, the one-hour drama series explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders.

[09/10/26 - 11:02 AM]
Wisconsin-Notre Dame on NBC & Peacock Is NBC Sports' Third-Most Watched Notre Dame Football Game Since 2005, Averaging 8.1 Million Viewers
The audience for the No. 4 Fighting Irish's 41-13 victory peaked at 9.7 million viewers in the second quarter (9:15-9:30 p.m. ET) as Notre Dame led 13-10.

[09/10/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Prison Break: Black Creek" - Now in Production - Hulu
Welcome to Black Creek Penitentiary.

[09/10/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO to Debut the Tony and Olivier Award-Winning Play "Oh, Mary!" in 2027
Cole Escola, Giles Terera, Bianca Leigh, Tony Macht and Michael Urie will star in the filmed adaptation.

[09/10/26 - 11:00 AM]
E!'s New Gilded Pleasure Is Here! "The Golden Life" Premieres Tuesday, October 20 at 10 PM ET/PT
Kelly Bensimon, Countess Luann De Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan, and Ramona Singer are bringing decades of friendship and feuds to sunny Palm Beach, FL, for a new start in the Sunshine State.

[09/10/26 - 10:31 AM]
Karen Kingsbury's "The Christmas Ring" to Premiere as Part of Great American Christmas 2026
Jana Kramer, Ben Hollingsworth, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Ashley Brown, and Jessie James Decker star in the project, which is based on the 2025 book of the same name.

[09/10/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Teaser, Key Art & First Look Images for "The Good Daughter"
Rose Byrne, Meghann Fahy, Brendan Gleeson, Olivia Williams, and Harper Steele star in the project, premiering November 12.

[09/10/26 - 10:00 AM]
Snoop Dogg to Host the "2026 MTV Video Music Awards" ("VMAs") Sunday, Sept. 27 on CBS
Snoop Dogg is a 13-time "VMAs" nominee, having won three awards.

[09/10/26 - 09:56 AM]
OWN's Hit Dating Series "Ready to Love" Heads to Chicago for an All-New Season Premiering Friday, October 2
The series follows a vibrant group of successful Black singles in their 30s and 40s as they navigate the excitement, challenges, and unexpected twists of finding lasting love in the Windy City.

[09/10/26 - 09:31 AM]
Sam Morril Returns to Netflix with a New One-Hour Stand-Up Special, "Incorrect"
The special premieres globally on September 29.

[09/10/26 - 09:09 AM]
Women's Flyweight Championship Headlines First-Ever UFC Main Card to Air Live on Both CBS and Paramount+
UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang takes place Saturday, October 3 at the Delta Center and for the first time, the entire main card will air on both CBS and Paramount+, beginning at a special start time of 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.