NEW YORK – Jeff Shell, the CEO of NBCUniversal, is leaving the company after an investigation into an inappropriate workplace relationship, the company’s owner said Sunday.
In a statement, Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, said it and Shell had “mutually agreed” that Sunday would be his last day after he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman who worked for the company.
“Today is my last day as CEO of NBCUniversal. I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret,” Shell said in the statement. “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 has been the CEO at NBCUniversal since January 2020, The New York Times reported. Comcast did not say who would be replacing Shell, according to the newspaper.
“We are disappointed to share this news with you,” Brian L. Roberts and Mike Cavanaugh, the CEO and president of Comcast respectively, said in a statement, according to NBC News. “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.”
Comcast is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings on Thursday, CNN reported.
Shell, who joined the company in 2004, oversaw NBCUniversal’s entertainment television networks, a motion picture company, TV and sports production operations and a leading television stations group, The Associated Press reported, citing NBCUniversal’s website.
He also oversaw the company’s theme parks and a premium advertising-supported streaming service, according to the news organization.
In a note to employees on Sunday, Roberts said that Shell’s senior team would report to Cavanagh, the Times reported.
