CNBC Anchor Accused Ex-CEO Shell of Sexual Harassment

Hadley Gamble

CNBC International anchor Hadley Gamble accused former NBCUniversal Chief Executive Jeff Shell of sexual harassment and sex discrimination in a complaint to the company, a lawyer for Ms. Gamble said Monday. 

The Wall Street Journal reports NBCUniversal parent Comcast Corp. said Sunday that Mr. Shell was exiting after an investigation into a complaint that he engaged in inappropriate conduct.

The married Shell was fired for cause, and the company doesn’t intend to pay him severance, people familiar with the situation said Monday. CNBC is owned by NBCUniversal.

“The investigation into Mr. Shell arose from a complaint by my client of sexual harassment and sex discrimination. Given these circumstances it is very disappointing that my client’s name has been released and her privacy violated,” said Suzanne McKie, a managing partner of Farore Law, a firm based in the U.K. 

Jeff Shell

Media reports late Sunday named Gamble as the individual who brought the complaint. The complaint was filed about a month ago, according to a person familiar with the matter.

In a statement Sunday, Shell said he had an inappropriate relationship with a company employee. “I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down,” he said. 

Gamble is a CNBC anchor and senior international correspondent who covers energy, geopolitics and financial markets, according to her company biography.

She has been at the network for several years and now anchors a show from CNBC’s Middle East headquarters. Gamble’s current contract wasn’t expected to be renewed, people familiar with the situation said.

Comcast President Mike Cavanagh will oversee Mr. Shell’s direct reports for now, the company said.

Shell oversaw the NBCUniversal portfolio, which includes the NBC broadcast network and TV stations, cable channels including CNBC, MSNBC, USA and Bravo, the Peacock streaming service and the Universal studio and theme parks.