Jeff Gaspin has resigned as chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, a role he has held since July 2009.
As TheWrap reported late last week, the new Comcast plan for NBC Universal television left no major role for Gaspin, and the executive indicated as much in a memo to NBC employees on Monday afternoon.
"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," Gaspin wrote. "Therefore I will be departing NBC Universala short time after the merger."
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Gaspin said he would step down as soon as the merger is done, which is expected early in the new year.
The television executive took over the fourth place network after successfully running the company's lucrative cable division.
But he ran headlong into the debacle over late-night and Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. While his boss Jeff Zucker made the decisions that moved Leno to 10 pm, it was Gaspin who was nominally in charge of the network. (Zucker has also lost his job subsequent to this disaster.)
TheWrap has reported that former Showtime executive Bob Greenblatt is expected to take over the top role in running NBC Entertainment once the Comcast merger is approved.
Gaspin spent nearly two decadses at the network.
The full memo:
Even though there has been much speculation in the press I wanted you to hear directly from me.
During the course of the Comcast/GE merger, I've had many good conversations with Steve Burke about my role at the new NBCUniversal. 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 newcompany. Therefore I will be departing NBC Universala 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 NBCUniversal 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.
