NBCU’s Rovner picks content team

NBCUniversal (NBCU)’s recently appointed content boss Susan Rovner has named her heads of scripted, alternative and late-night, resulting in the departure of NBCU veteran Bill McGoldrick.

Susan Rovner

After more than 20 years at Warner Bros Television, Rovner joined NBCU last month to lead creative strategy for original entertainment content across its broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. These include NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA Network and fledgling streaming service Peacock.

The exec has promoted from within the company to appoint the content leads for various genres, with Lisa Katz tapped as president of scripted, while Rod Aissa and Jenny Groom will oversee unscripted, which is being split into two areas.

Rovner’s memo to staff detailing the new structure did not include mention of NBCU veteran McGoldrick, who most recently served as president, original content, entertainment networks and direct-to-consumer.

According to US reports, McGoldrick, who was among the candidates for Rovner’s position, has decided to leave the company. He rejoined NBCU in 2009 after an initial stint with USA Network between 1998 and 2005.

Katz has spent the past three years as co-president of scripted at NBC, where she has developed hits such as This Is Us. She will be responsible for development, current programming and casting across entertainment television and streaming.

It comes after her fellow former co-president of scripted at NBC, Tracey Pakosta, left recently to join Netflix as head of comedy.

Meanwhile, with nearly 200 unscripted projects across the company’s platforms, NBCU’s unscripted division has been divided into two areas.

Aissa, who joined NBCU in 2012 and most recently served as executive VP, originals, at Oxygen and E!, will be executive VP, unscripted content, overseeing all unscripted lifestyle and documentary programming across the portfolio.

Groom, who has been with NBC since 2003 and currently oversees unscripted brands such as The Voice, America’s Got Talent and American Ninja Warrior, has had her role expanded to executive VP of unscripted content, adding reality competition, talent competition and gameshow formats to her remit.

Elsewhere, Tracie Wilson, who led the launch of The Kelly Clarkson Show, has been named executive VP, syndication studios, while Katie Hockmeyer will continue as executive VP, late night.

Jen Neal, who leads E!’s live events and news divisions, will now also oversee entertainment television and streaming as executive VP, live events, specials and E! news.

Rovner works with Frances Berwick, chairman of NBCU’s entertainment networks, and reports to television and streaming chairman Mark Lazarus. NBCU brought its networks and Peacock into one division, led by Lazarus, in May.