Jeff Zucker served as President and Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal from 2007-2011. In his more than 24 years with the company, he had a diversified career as an award-winning news producer, entertainment executive and business leader.
NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment content companies, with assets that include the U.S. broadcast networks NBC and Telemundo; cable networks USA, Syfy, Bravo, Oxygen, CNBC, MSNBC, and the Weather Channel; movie studios Universal Pictures and Focus Features; digital properties such as Hulu (a joint venture with News Corporation and Disney) and iVillage; an extensive array of international television channels in Europe, Asia, and Latin America; and theme parks in Hollywood, Orlando, Tokyo and Singapore.
Zucker spent his entire career at NBC Universal, joining NBC’s Olympic unit in 1986, straight out of Harvard. As CEO, he diversified the company's portfolio with acquisitions such as Oxygen, the Weather Channel and Sparrowhawk Media, expanded the brand globally, oversaw the growth of NBCU's theme park business and led its digital expansion, including his role as one of the architects of Hulu.
Prior to being named CEO, he served as president of the NBC Universal Television Group from May 2004 until January 2007. Before that, he was president of the Entertainment, News & Cable Group and president of NBC Entertainment. During his tenure overseeing the company's television business, NBC Universal built a pre-eminent stable of cable news and entertainment channels, maximizing the cross-platform opportunities of its many television assets, NBC News remained the dominant source of America's news and information, and NBC Sports the leader in broadcast sports. Before taking the helm of NBC Entertainment in 2001, Zucker spent nearly eight years as the executive producer of NBC News’ Today. Under his leadership at Today, the program redefined morning television, becoming the nation’s most-watched morning news show and the most profitable program on television.
Zucker was appointed executive producer of Today in January 1992 at age 26, which made him the youngest executive producer in the history of the program. He produced every major news and political special for NBC News from 1992-2000. He also served as executive producer of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw in February and March 1993, a post held concurrently with his role at Today. Zucker joined NBC in 1986 as a researcher for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics and joined NBC News as a field producer for Today in January 1989.
He is now returning to his roots as a producer, with his first roles as Executive Producer of Katie Couric's new daytime, syndicated program that will debut on broadcast television in the fall of 2012, and as the film producer of Daniel Silva's best-selling series of Gabriel Allon spy thrillers.
A five-time Emmy Award winner, Zucker graduated from Harvard College in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in American history. He served as president of the Harvard Crimson from 1985 to 1986. Zucker is a member of the board of directors of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Temple Emanu-El, and the Robin Hood Foundation. Zucker’s date of birth is April 9, 1965. He and his wife, Caryn, live in New York with their four children.
Jeff Zucker, Former President & CEO of NBC Universal, is available exclusively through IMG Speakers bureau for speaking engagements. Jeff Zucker is also available for leadership summits, management seminars and much more. Please contact IMG Speakers at 212-774-6735 or speakers@imgworld.com for more information on booking Jeff Zucker.
