Top NBC Executive Ousted Over ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ With Staffer

Jeff Shell, then-CEO of NBCUniversal, talks on the phone as he arrives for a conference at Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 5, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell has left his post at the company after an investigation prompted by a misconduct complaint found that he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a female co-worker.

Shell’s ouster is effective immediately, according to a Sunday statement by Comcast, which acquired NBCUniversal about a decade ago.

“The Company and Jeff Shell, Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal, have mutually agreed that Mr. Shell will depart effective immediately following the Company’s investigation led by outside counsel into a complaint of inappropriate conduct,” Comcast stated.

In a statement of his own, Shell expressed regret and said that his last day as CEO of NBCUniversal would be April 23.

“I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret,” Shell said. “I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege.”

Shell’s team will report to Comcast President Mike Cavanagh, according to a report from CNBC that cited a company email, though it’s unclear who will replace Shell as CEO.

Cavanagh and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts issued a joint statement of their own, according to Variety.

“We are disappointed to share this news with you. We built this company on a culture of integrity. Nothing is more important than how we treat each other. You should count on your leaders to create a safe and respectful workplace. When our principles and policies are violated, we will always move quickly to take appropriate action, as we have done here,” the two executives said in the statement.

A number of senior executives in the media industry have been ousted in recent times amid allegations of office misconduct or inappropriate workplace relationships.

CNN chief Jeff Zucker resigned last year over his failure to disclose a relationship with a work colleague. CBS chief Les Moonves left the company in 2018 after over a dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct.

News of Shell’s departure comes days ahead of Comcast reporting its first quarter results and weeks before the television industry’s annual upfront advertising sales season.

In their joint statement, Cavanagh and Roberts sought to send a reassuring message about the company’s operations as news broke of Shell’s departure.

“Please know that NBCUniversal is performing extremely well operationally and financially, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about our position and prospects going forward,” the two executives said.

Shell joined Comcast in 2004 and was appointed to the top job at NBCUniversal in 2019.