VERSANT Board of Directors for Future Independent Media Company Announced
Eight new members to bring significant expertise in media, technology, finance and strategy to guide the future publicly traded company board
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VERSANT will be a leading independent publicly traded media company comprised of iconic brands, including
As previously announced,
“I am pleased to welcome this accomplished forward-looking team to our future Board of Directors,” said
“The announcement of the future Board marks a critical milestone as we define our long-term strategy and advance the value of our iconic media portfolio,” said
Upon completion of the spin-off, Comcast intends to appoint the following individuals to the Board of Directors, representing an array of experience in media, technology, finance, and other industries:
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Mark Lazarus is the Chief Executive Officer of VERSANT. Previously, Lazarus was Chairman ofNBCUniversal Media Group , where he oversaw the company’s TV and Streaming platforms, distribution and monetization. Previously,Mr. Lazarus served as Chairman of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming as well as Chairman of NBCUniversal Broadcast, Entertainment andLifestyle Group , Sports and News. Under Mr. Lazarus’ leadership, the company expanded its many successful brands in sports, news and entertainment, including in primetime, late-night and across the entireNBC Sports portfolio.
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David Novak is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of David Novak Leadership, a digital leadership development platform which teaches vital skills to transform people into better leaders. As CEO of YUM! Brands, Inc., he helped grow the company into a global powerhouse of leading brands with a renowned culture across its franchises.In addition to his current position on Comcast’s Board of Directors, from which he will resign at the time of the spin-off,Mr. Novak sits on the Board of theLift-a-Life Novak Family Foundation . He previously served as Chairman of the YUM! Brands Board, Executive Chairman of the YUM! Brands Board and a Director on the JPMorgan Chase Board.
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Rebecca Campbell is the former Chairman of International Content and Operations at The Walt Disney Company. After spending over two decades within Walt Disney Co. and having served as a Board Member ofBroadcast Music, Inc. (BMI),Ms. Campbell continues to display her proficiency in navigating the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry as the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Meow Wolf, a leading arts and entertainment company known for its immersive multimedia experiences and large-scale interactive art installations. Additionally, she is involved withBig Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles , serving first as a board member and now as a trustee.
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Creighton Condon is Of Counsel at the global law firm of A&O Shearman. He previously served asShearman & Sterling's Senior Partner, European Managing Partner and Global Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group Leader. He advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures and counsels boards of directors and special committees on governance matters, change of control transactions, shareholder activism and complex structural issues.Mr. Condon also serves as Chairman of theBoard of One to World, a non-profit organization advancing international understanding in the Fulbright tradition.
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Michael Conway is the former Chief Executive Officer ofStarbucks North America and a seasoned veteran driving growth in consumer-packaged goods and retail industries. Prior to joining Starbucks, he worked at Johnson & Johnson, serving as worldwide President of McNeil Nutritional, and Campbell Soup Company, serving as Vice President for the Adult Simple Meals Division of the Campbell Soup Company. For the past ten years,Mr. Conway has served as a Board Director at McCormick.
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David Eun is a Founding Advisor to Kanza AI, a generative AI company focused on health, wellness and medicine. He is also Co-Founder ofAlakai Group , an investment firm. Previously,Mr. Eun served as President and Chief Innovation Officer ofSamsung Electronics , where he founded Samsung NEXT, an innovation group focused on startup investments, M&A and new business creation. He began his career atNBC and later held senior leadership roles at Google, YouTube andTime Warner . He serves on the Board of Directors of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.
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Gerald L. Hassell is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. During his career at BNY,Mr. Hassell had direct management responsibility for the company's broad range of banking and investment services businesses, including asset servicing and issuer, broker-dealer, treasury and clearing services, as well as operations and technology. He is a former director of Comcast and MetLife.
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Scott Mahoney is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ofPeter Millar LLC . Prior to acquiring the golf apparel company in partnership withSea Island Company ,Mr. Mahoney gained insight into the golf and specialty store industry while working atPolo Ralph Lauren . There, he established a strong foundation for his later extensive background in brand development.Mr. Mahoney is also on the board of directors of Fleet Feet, a running-inspired company founded in 1976.
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Maritza Montiel is the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche LLP’sU.S. Business . Ms. Montiel’s client base ranged across various industries in both the commercial and federal sectors. Prior to her appointment as Deputy CEO, she led the firm’sU.S. regions and was tasked with managing the design and implementation ofDeloitte University , the firm’s leadership development center and the largest single investment in the firm’s history. For the past ten years,Ms. Montiel has served on the Board of Directors at McCormick. She is currently on the Board of Directors for Royal Caribbean Group and a former director of Comcast and APTAR.
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Len Potter foundedWildcat Capital Management, LLC , a registered investment advisor, and has served as its President and Chief Investment Officer since inception.Mr. Potter has also served as a founder and senior managing director ofVida Ventures , a biotech venture fund, since its inception. He has extensive experience as a Board Director and has served or continues to serve on a number of boards, including Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., SLR Investment Corp. and SuRo Capital Corporation.
Upon completion of the spin-off from Comcast, VERSANT will be an industry-leading news, sports and entertainment business with a defined growth strategy, dedicated management team and stable of marquee brands that will reach over 65 million
About
About VERSANT
VERSANT, Comcast Corporation’s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) planned spin-off, will be a leading independent publicly traded media company comprised of most of NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, including
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, readers should consider various factors, including the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” sections of Comcast’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the
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Media Contacts:
VERSANT
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