The reorganization of the entertainment content team at NBCUniversal is complete with Susan Rovner defining the team and around 50 employees leaving as part of the changes.
Deadline understands that Bruce Evans, EVP, Current Programming and Dan Shear, EVP, Comedy Development at Peacock, are two of the high-profile executives who are leaving. It marks the most recent change with current programming being merged with the development and development of comedy under Jeff Meyerson.
The change comes after Rovner set up his leadership team in November, with Lisa Katz becoming president of scripted content and her dividing the scripted team into two divisions.
Cara Dellaverson and Alex Sepiol were chosen to co-lead the development of dramas and current affairs in the NBCU portfolio, including NBC, its cable networks and Peacock streamer. Both were named EVP, Drama Series, Entertainment Content and are reported to Katz.
Related Story
Grace Wu is promoted to oversee the cast on NBCUniversal Television & Streaming
Dellaverson has been with NBCU since 2015 and previously served as NBC Entertainment’s Drama Program EVP, where he led programs including This is us, good girls and New Amsterdam.
Sepiol, who started as an assistant in the U.S., has been with the company since 2004 and previously served as a scripted development EVP for the NBCUniversal Entertainment & Lifestyle Group and Direct-to-Consumer, where he oversaw the development of US scripted projects, SYFY, Bravo, E! and Peacock. He was credited with bringing programs like Mr. Robot, Dirty John and The sinner.
Jeff Meyerson will lead the news and development of comedy such as EVP, Comedy Series, Entertainment Content. Previously, he was senior vice president of comedy development at NBC Entertainment and directed programs such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the good place and Mr. Mayor.
Michael Sluchan will direct films, children’s programming and co-productions such as EVP, Current Series and Co-Productions, Entertainment Content. Sluchan has been with the company for more than 20 years EVP from Current Scripted Programming & Limited Series for NBCUniversal Entertainment & Lifestyle Networks and Direct-to-Consumer, where he led the current production of all scripted series in the USA, SYFY, Bravo, E! and peacock
Under Jenny Groom, EVP, Unscripted Content, who oversees talent competition and game show formats, Sharon Vuong will lead development as SVP, Unscripted Development, Entertainment Content and Shelby Shaftel will lead current programming as SVP, Unscripted Current Programing , Entertainment Content. Vuong, who left CBS last year, was previously senior vice president of Alternative Programming and Development and led the development of programs such as This is my Jam with Jimmy Fallon and Small fortune, while Shaftel was previously senior vice president of programming and alternative development for NBC Entertainment and oversaw The Titan games, the wall and Doing this.
On the lifestyle and docuseries side, led by Rod Aissa, Rachel Smith will lead the development and Shari Levine will lead the current schedule. Smith, who becomes EVP, Unscripted Development, Entertainment Content, was previously the Development EVP of Bravo and E !, where he worked on The Real Housewives franchise, and Levine, who became EVP, Unscripted Current Production, Entertainment Content, was previously Bravo’s Production EVP, where he oversaw programs like project Runway and Top Chef.
Most exits occur within the content team, with some additional exits in programming, acquisitions and marketing.