NBC hooks Electus’s Pollak in shake-up

NBC Entertainment has rejigged its alternative and reality division, with three promotions and the addition of former Electus executive John Pollak.

John Pollak

Pollak, who was most recently president of Electus Television, joins as exec VP of commercial development with a remit to oversee all domestic deals for unscripted shows, including working across sales strategy and creative partnerships with buyers.

His arrival at NBC comes two months after Ben Silverman and Howard T Owens’ US prodco Propagate acquired Electus, Silverman’s former company, as well as a majority stake in talent management and production firm Artists First.

Elsewhere, Jenny Groom has been upped to exec VP of alternative programming and development for NBC Entertainment, having previously been in the role as a senior VP. She oversees programming strategy, development and current series, having been with NBC for 15 years.

Enrique Guillen, formerly senior VP of NBC alternative programming, becomes exec VP of commercial strategy and international development at Universal Television Studio and will oversee international commercial strategy, while George Sealey has been named exec VP of creative affairs for the studio.

Sealey was most recently senior VP of alternative programming and development, having joined NBC in 2012 as VP of alternative programming and development.

The changes follow the promotion last month of NBC veteran Meredith Ahr, who was named president of the alternative and reality group with a remit across unscripted programming at the network, Universal Television’s alternative studio and first-run syndication.

Ahr described the quartet as “some of the most experienced executives in the unscripted genre and our longstanding collaborative relationship will continue to yield phenomenal results as they take on these elevated roles.”

Ahr reports to NBC co-chairmen George Cheeks and Paul Telegdy, who previously held the role. The pair were promoted by NBC in September after Bob Greenblatt announced he was standing down after eight years at the helm.