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NBCU International topper exits

NBC Universal International president Peter Smith is leaving the company following its acquisition by Comcast Communications earlier this year.

Smith, who has been with NBCU for over two decades and took up the top job at its international division in 2006, moving up from president of Universal Pictures International.

Staff at NBCU’s overseas base in London were informed of Smith’s exit in an internal memo today from Jeff Shell, the president of Comcast Programming Group, who was named chairman of NBCU International in November.

“Peter has delivered a strong and thriving operation during incredibly tough economic and market conditions, boosting revenues from US$2.7bn to over US$3.7bn in that time,” said Shell in his note.

He credited Smith with strategic acquisitions including Sparrowhawk, Carnival, Geneon and most recently Monkey Kingdom, as well as increasing the contribution international has made to its parent from 19% to 25% of revenues.

“Peter has made a huge contribution and achieved many notable successes in building a really strong platform for continued growth,” Shell continued.

“We have ambitions to invest in further substantial international expansion and I believe there is a lot of opportunity for growth in the marketplace.”

An NBCU spokeswoman added that Smith’s departure was “entirely amicable” and that he had achieved all he had set out to at the company. “Peter will now look to launch new businesses, which is something that he’s always wanted to do,” she said. He will leave at the end of the month.

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