After weeks of speculation that he’ll follow NBC-Universal Chairman Jeff Zucker out the door after the merger with Comcast, NBC Universal TV Chairman Jeff Gaspin confirmed Monday that he is leaving the company. He sent this memo out to the staff:”During the course of the Comcast/GE merger, I’ve had many good conversations with Steve Burke about my role at the new NBC Universal. Under the current structure, all of the television entertainment assets including cable, broadcast, and distribution report to me. As is his prerogative, Steve has determined that he wants to move in a different direction and given the scope of my current responsibilities, we could not agree on an appropriate role for me in the new company. Therefore I will be departing NBC Universal a short time after the merger.
“I have spent a combined 19 years at NBC Universal and have had numerous positions in finance, news, cable, and broadcast. While we have had our challenges on the entertainment broadcast side, I am proud of the progress we have made and the tremendous success of our outstanding cable assets, our strong distribution divisions and our market-leading digital innovation. It’s with great pride and appreciation I was able to participate in many of these successful ventures. I leave NBC Universal with an obvious sense of sadness and loss, but I’ll be forever grateful for my relationships with my colleagues and those who gave me a chance to participate in the success of this great company. It’s been an exhilarating ride – and I thank you for sharing it with me.”
Gaspin has served as chairman of NBC Universal TV Entertainment since July 2009. Before that, he was president and COO of NBC Universal TV Group. Back when he was the executive vice president of alternative series for NBC in 2001, he developed shows like The Apprentice and The Biggest Loser.
According to The War For Late Night, Bill Carter’s just-out sequel to The Late Shift, Gaspin was the one who first came up with the idea to to put Leno back into The Tonight Show and move O’Brien to midnight.
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