NBCU fired Jeff Shell for sexual harassment, outgoing CEO will not receive severance pay

NBCUniversal owner Comcast confirmed on Monday that it had fired CEO Jeff Shell for sexual harassment, meaning the veteran exec will not receive a severance package.

Comcast shocked the industry on Sunday by revealing that Shell had left NBCU after two decades with the company, following an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct.

Shell, who is married, admitted that he had had an “inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret.”

Comcast has now said in a regulatory filing that its investigation – conducted by an outside agency – had found evidence of sexual harassment. As such, he will not receive no severance pay, according to a Reuters source.

A successor has not yet been named and in the interim, Shell’s team with report to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh.

US reports claimed on Sunday that the exit of Shell revolved around a relationship with a former CNBC anchor, confirmed on Monday as being Hadley Gamble.

Her attorney, Suzanne McKie, said it was “very disappointing that my client’s name has been released and her privacy violated.”

Shell had been in the CEO role since 2020, having been named as the successor to Steve Burke. He had previously been chairman of NBCU Film & Entertainment and also had hands-on experience of operations outside of the US, having been chairman of NBCU International.