Both men — bounced from running NBCUniversal and CNN, respectively, over sex scandals — now find themselves at private equity firm RedBird Capital, which is behind Skydance Media’s ongoing machinations to take over Shari Redstone’s struggling Paramount entertainment empire.
Jeff Shell is in advanced discussions to lead the firm’s sports and entertainment investment business.
Hadley Gamble, a CNBC reporter who ended up as part of the headlines involving the business-news outlet’s corporate parent and the ouster of its most recent CEO, is leaving the company herself.
A complaint filed by CNBC senior international correspondent Hadley Gamble accuses CNBC International executives of fostering a toxic workplace culture, in addition to allegations against other executives of sexual harassment and discrimination, according to sources familiar with the complaint. Gamble’s internal complaint led to the investigation, and ultimate firing, of NBCU CEO Jeff Shell last month for sexual harassment. Shell previously oversaw CNBC International when he served as chairman of NBCUniversal International, based in London, from 2011 to 2013.
Jeff Shell, the ousted CEO of NBCUniversal, forfeited compensation valued at $43 million for 2022 after being fired for cause last Sunday. NBCU parent Comcast said in an SEC filing today: “As previously disclosed, Mr. Shell’s employment was terminated with cause on April 23, 2023. As a result, he did not receive any supplemental payments or benefits in connection with his termination. He will receive only his accrued but unpaid base salary and vacation time, vested employee benefits and reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses in accordance with his employment agreement. Upon his termination, all unvested PSUs and RSUs and all vested and unvested stock options, which had an estimated fair value of $43.3 million as of the termination date, were forfeited and canceled.”
Shell’s surprising exit leaves NBCU without a permanent chief at the helm as the company navigates an increasingly complex set of circumstances, with TV viewers moving to on-demand streaming in such numbers that the economics of the business are eroding faster than executives can work to find new sources of revenue.
Jeff Shell, What The Hell Were You Thinking?
The disgraced NBCU chief is only the latest in a long line of C-suiters who have abused their positions, and their companies have paid the price.
The executive is a company veteran but a relative newcomer to Hollywood, unlike Shell, who left after an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
Jeff Shell, the chief executive of NBCUniversal and one of the media industry’s renowned executives, is leaving the company after an investigation into inappropriate conduct, parent company Comcast announced Sunday. In a brief statement, Shell said Sunday would be his last day after what he called “an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company.”