• by Wayne Friedman , November 18, 2010

Just like Fox did the day before, the new Comcast-controlled NBC Universal decided to stay inside when it came to promoting its advertising executives in the newly formed company.

Longtime senior ad sales executive Marianne Gambelli will be president of NBC Network advertising sales. She had been executive of advertising sales for NBC since 2004.

Mike Pilot, who had been in the post of president of advertising sales for NBC since 2006 -- previously holding a senior position at a General Electric financial unit -- is departing.

The announcement was made by Steve Burke, COO of Comcast Corp. and the new incoming chairman of NBC Universal, in a memo to NBC employees early Thursday morning.

David Cassaro, who had been president of Comcast Network Advertising Sales for E!, Versus, Golf Channel, Style, and others, will now add all NBC Universal cable network and digital sales, including NBC U's USA Network, Syfy, Bravo, Oxygen. He becomes president of cable advertising sales for NBC Universal.

He will report to Bonnie Hammer, who will become chairman of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios; and Lauren Zalaznick, who will become chairman of NBC Universal Entertainment and Digital Networks and Integrated Media. Bravo, Oxygen, and iVillage will continue to report to Zalaznick. In addition to her oversight, including USA Network, Syfy, Chiller, Sleuth, Universal HD and Universal Cable Productions, Hammer gets Comcast's E! and G4 networks.

Ted Harbert, currently president/CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group, will have the new title of chairman of NBC Broadcasting, focusing on business affairs --  advertising sales, affiliate relations, research, domestic syndication and the NBC station group.

In other expected executive changes, ex-Showtime entertainment executive Bob Greenblatt becomes chairman of NBC Entertainment. Current senior NBC executives Marc Graboff and Angela Bromstad will report to Greenblatt.

Time Warner executive Pat Fili-Krushel joins NBC Universal as an executive vice president with a portfolio including business strategy, human resources and legal.

Dick Ebersol will become chairman of the NBC Sports Group, responsible for NBC Sports, The Golf Channel, Versus and the Comcast Regional Sports Networks.

Steve Capus will continue as president of NBC News/MSNBC; and Mark Hoffman will continue as president of CNBC.

Ron Meyer will continue as president/COO, Universal Studios, with Adam Fogelson as chairman, Universal Pictures. Tom Williams will be in charge of Universal Parks and Resorts. Senior Comcast executive Jeff Shell will become chairman of NBC Universal International.

Comcast content distribution executive Matt Bond will be executive vice president of content distribution for NBC Universal; Comcast strategic business executive Page Thompson will join NBC Universal as executive vice president of strategic integration, responsible for identifying synergy opportunities between Comcast, NBC, Universal Studios and Parks and the cable channels.