UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):   March 17, 2017
	Comcast Corporation
	(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
	Pennsylvania
	(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-32871		27-0000798
(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
One Comcast Center Philadelphia, PA		19103-2838
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 286-1700
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On March 17, 2017, Neil Smit, Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation (“Comcast”) and President and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Cable Communications (“Comcast Cable”), announced his intention to retire as President and CEO of Comcast Cable after seven years of service with Comcast. Effective April 1, 2017, Mr. Smit will assume a new role as a Vice Chairman of Comcast, and Dave Watson, currently the Chief Operating Officer of Comcast Cable, will become its President and CEO. In his new part-time role, Mr. Smit will work with Mr. Watson to ensure a smooth leadership transition and also will work with Comcast business leaders to identify future technology-oriented opportunities.

 

On March 20, 2017, Comcast issued a press release with respect to the foregoing, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01(d). Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release dated March 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

			COMCAST CORPORATION
Date:	March 20, 2017		By:	/s/ Arthur R. Block
				Arthur R. Block Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE  Comcast Corporation  One Comcast Center  Philadelphia, PA 19103  www.comcastcorporation.com

 

 

 

COMCAST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT COMCAST CABLE

 

Dave Watson to Become President and CEO of Comcast Cable

Neil Smit Named a Vice Chairman of Comcast Corporation

 

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA – March 20, 2017 – Comcast Corporation announced today that Dave Watson will become President and CEO of Comcast Cable as Neil Smit moves into a new role as a Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation, effective April 1. For the next few months, Smit will work closely with Watson to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Smit will then work part-time with Comcast leaders to develop future technology-oriented business opportunities.

 

Smit has had a stellar career, including seven years as the head of Comcast Cable. Prior to joining Comcast, Smit spent decades in senior executive positions at Charter, AOL, and Nabisco. Before his career in corporate America, Smit was a Navy SEAL, serving as a member of SEAL Team Six.

 

Watson, who joined Comcast in 1991, has served as the Chief Operating Officer of Comcast Cable since 2010 and has partnered with Smit in running the cable division since Smit’s arrival at the company. He has held many senior roles within Comcast, including leadership of the product, sales, marketing, and advertising functions.

 

Throughout his career, Watson has led some of the industry’s most impressive transitions, including from analog to IPTV and from early entry into high-speed internet to delivering gigabit speeds. He has also played a key role in Comcast’s expansion into commercial business services and in the development of our advertising businesses.

 

“Dave Watson is the perfect new leader of Comcast Cable,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. “There are few people in the cable industry who have his breadth and depth of experience. Dave, along with Neil and the executive teams across the cable division, drove the operating strategy and execution that have led to phenomenal growth over the last several years as well as our focus on the customer experience and the improvements we have made recently. Dave knows the business and has a track record of delivering results.”

 

Roberts also noted that, “Neil has been an extraordinary leader and has helped transform Comcast Cable into the top cable and broadband company in the nation. He is not only an exceptional executive, but he is also one of the finest individuals with whom I have had the privilege to work. Neil and his team have created an innovation engine at Comcast Cable, with countless new and game-changing products and businesses.

 

We are also so appreciative and inspired by Neil’s service as a Navy SEAL. While the personal sacrifices he made on behalf of our Country can never be repaid, all of us who know Neil are very grateful for his service. As Neil cuts back on his full-time role, I am delighted that he will continue to work with us.”

 

“It is an honor to take the reins from Neil. I can’t thank him enough for his partnership during the last seven years,” said Dave Watson. “Neil has taught us all lessons in leadership, team building, focus, and execution. He challenged us to reinvent the television experience; to grow video customers; to make Comcast video positive; to invest in our plant; to grow broadband customers; and, to build business services essentially from scratch. And, he succeeded on all fronts.”

 

-more-

 

Neil Smit commented that, “Leading Comcast Cable has been a wonderful experience. Brian has been a terrific partner and I have the utmost respect and admiration for his vision, leadership, and drive. It has been an honor and privilege leading this team. I know I am leaving Comcast Cable in great hands with Dave Watson as its new leader. As I approach 60, and for reasons related to the injuries I sustained in my previous career, I am looking forward to spending more time with my family while also helping Comcast find new growth opportunities.”

 

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed internet and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

 

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Media Contacts:

Jennifer Khoury

Comcast Corporation

215-286-7408

Jennifer_Khoury@comcast.com

 

John Demming

Comcast Corporation

215-286-8011

John_Demming@comcast.com