By Kevin McCauley
Jeff Zucker made it official today, telling NBC Universal staffers that he will exit as CEO once Comcast receives the regulatory approval for its 51 percent takeover of the property owned by General Electric.
The 45-year-old said the decision to leave the “only place that he has ever worked” was not an easy one. “I met my wife here, enjoyed the birth of our four children in that time, worked in almost every division of the company. And forged relationships, both professional and personal, that will last a lifetime.”
He expects Comcast “will be a great new steward, just as GE has been, and they deserve the chance to implement their own vision.” The nearly 25-year stint was “a great run.”
GE CEO Jeff Immelt released his own statement, praising Zucker as a “tough-minded, inclusiveand innovative leader” who “never blinked when it came to tough decisions.”
He expects to close the deal with Comcast by the end of the year. During that time, Zucker “will focus on ensuring a smooth transition to a new leadership team and running the place with the excellence our customers have come to expect.”
Immelt did warn about the regulatory process being “unpredictable.”
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