NBCU appoints UK chief

NBC Universal International TV Production (NBCUTV) has promoted Gareth Neame to the new position of UK MD, in the latest round of the company’s game of musical chairs.

Neame was MD at UK prodco Carnival Film & TV, which NBCU acquired in 2008. He will retain that role as well as taking on the new post, reporting to president of international production Michael Edelstein

Edelstein, who replaced Denise O’Donoghue in June, yesterday appointed Oscar-winning documentary producer Deborah Oppenheimer as NBCUTV executive VP.

The hires are part of Edelstein’s “talent and content growth strategy,” which will also see the recruitment of three senior executives to build entertainment, comedy and drama, respectively. Reporting to Neame, the trio will focus on the expansion of NBCUTV’s production slate.

Edelstein said: “It is an exciting time at NBC Universal as we accelerate our growth plans. I’m pleased to begin building our team of creative talent and thrilled to reward key executives with extended responsibilities as we ramp up our expansion globally and set our sights on new opportunities in the UK and further afield in the International marketplace.”

Other senior team changes for NBCUTV this week include the promotion of Jeremy Miles from VP to senior VP of business and legal affairs; Yvonne Pilkington, who becomes VP to senior VP of format sales; and Charlotte Raben, who is now VP of format sales.

The changes come at a time of turbulence for NBCU, with president and CEO Jeff Zucker last week announcing that he would be stepping down as soon as Comcast’s takeover of the Peacock is completed. He will be replaced by Comcast chief operating officer Steve Burke.