• by Wayne Friedman , September 16, 2016

Ted Harbert, chairman of NBCUniversal Broadcasting for the last five years, is leaving. Steve Burke, CEO of NBCUniversal, announced the change in a memo sent around to employees.

Harbert had been at the post since February 2011 after Comcast Corp. completed its purchase of NBCUniversal. Before that, he was head of Comcast Entertainment networks, and started out running the E! Network in 2004.

Harbert had other senior TV network posts in his career, including chairman of ABC Entertainment, as well as an earlier NBC stint as president of NBC Studios.

"The businesses Ted oversees are firing on all cylinders, and he is ready to look for his next challenge outside of NBCUniversal,” said Burke in the memo.

Harbert's responsibilities are being taken over by other NBCU executives.

Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group, will oversee NBC’s owned-and-operated TV stations and its affiliates relations, NBC Affiliate Marketing and NBC Network Operations. Plus, Lazarus will oversee NBC’s Broadcast Standards, which is run by Alan Wurtzel, president of research and media development for NBCUniversal.

George Cheeks, president of business operations and late-night programming, and Paul Telegdy, president of the alternative and reality group, will have oversight for NBC’s first-run syndication business.

Jeff Bader, president of program planning, strategy and research for NBC Entertainment, will be responsible for the broadcast research group, which is also run by Wurtzel.

Kevin MacLellan, chairman of NBCUniversal International, will become chairman, global distribution and international for NBCU, now responsible for television sales globally, as well as adding oversight of new media distribution.

In a newly created position, Maggie McLean Suniewick, SVP of strategic integration, will become president of NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises, a division dedicated to building new digital businesses.