Comcast Assembles NBCU Management Team

NBC Universal's soon-to-be chief, Steve Burke, is putting his stamp on the company, announcing a new team of executives to rev up the TV and movie giant's performance and overhaul its culture.

According to a story at wsj.com by Jessica E. Vascellaro and Sam Schechner, the new lineup, conveyed in a memo Thursday, includes a few new faces, some plucked from Comcast Corp., which is poised to take control of NBC Universal. Many of the other managers were already there, and some will take on expanded roles.

The changes flatten the management structure of the media conglomerate, which includes the NBC broadcast network, numerous cable channels and a movie studio, while keeping intact the basic framework of many divisions.

With the moves, Mr. Burke, who is also chief operating officer of Comcast, wants to remove some vestiges of the culture of NBC Universal's current owner, General Electric Co., according to people familiar with the matter, including its centralized reporting structure. Mr. Burke believes he can improve the performance by creating a more collegial and cohesive culture, one of these people said.

Comcast last December announced plans to take control of NBC Universal from GE and regulators are expected to approve the deal, with conditions, later this year or in early 2011.

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