NBCU Streaming Chief Addresses Linda Yaccarino Exit During Upfront: ‘We Want to Thank Her and Wish Her Well’

thewrap.com:

exited the company after more than a decade on Friday to serve as the new chief executive officer of Twitter. “So what was more surprising today, being welcomed by a foul mouthed teddy bear or seeing me up here on stage?,” Lazarus told an audience of advertisers during the company’s Upfront presentation on Monday, referencing a raunchy musical opening from Seth MacFarlane’s Ted. “In all seriousness, Linda and I’ve worked together for many, many years here at NBC and in our time in sales at Turner, and for her many contributions and for building an excellent team here.

We want to thank her and wish her well.”Since joining NBCUniversal in 2011, Yaccarino’s team has generated more than $100 billion in ad sales, expanded the company’s reach globally and helped launch Peacock.

More recently, she was gearing up to take a new, unified ad-selling approach to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Her departure follows the unexpected ouster of NBCU’s former CEO Jeff Shell following his admission of an improper relationship with a NBCUniversal employee.

Yaccarino was one of Shell’s direct reports who got a new boss, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh, when Shell departed.“While you may not have been expecting me I’m glad to be here and to see so many familiar faces,” Lazarus added.