Entertainment executive Liz Jenkins has been named to the newly created role of chief business officer for the NBCUniversal Studio Group. The former COO of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine joins the company with an expansive title to oversee strategy and business operations, reporting to studio chairman and NBCU Chief Content Officer Donna Langley.
“Liz has established herself as an industry leader with a deep understanding of the complexities of our business, and her unique perspective and varied experience fuel her drive for innovation,” Langley said of the hire. “She is a builder; whether it’s brands, individual projects, or culture. As the Studio Group continues to develop and adapt to the new industry climate, Liz will be an incredible partner to me and the broader NBCUniversal team.”
Jenkins will serve as “connective tissue” within the company’s content business, which Langley assumed control of in a July reorganization led by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh. Jenkins takes her post later in September.
In addition to hiring Jenkins, Langley has bolstered several other executives. Peter Levinsohn has bumped up to chairman of global distribution and expands his oversight to the international theatrical team, which continues to be run by Veronkia Kwan Vandenberg. Jimmy Horowitz transitions from vice chairman to chairman of business affairs and operations at NBCUniversal, where he reports to both Langley and Mark Lazarus. Pearlena Igbokwe, chair of the TV production studio Universal Studio Group reports to Langley, while Frances Berwick reports to both Langley and Lazarus as chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment.
Universal Pictures chief marketing officer Michael Moses and franchise manager David O’Connor will continue to report to Langley. Langley’s functional leaders within NBCUniversal Studio Group will be Lissa Freed, global head of human resources; Evan Langweiler, EVP of global communications; General Counsel Chris Miller; and CFO Adam Moysey. West Coast EVP Cindy Gardner is joining Langley’s cabinet, dually reporting to her office and NBCUniversal EVP Adam Miller.
Jenkins joined Hello Sunshine in 2018 as CFO. There she was responsible for establishing and overseeing finance, business affairs, operations, physical production and music, as well as facilitating the growth of the company’s content and direct-to-consumer businesses. She led the acquisitions of SKR Productions and the home organization/lifestyle brand The Home Edit, as well as the 2021 sale of Hello Sunshine to Candle Media.
“The media space has never been more dynamic, disruptive and frankly, disrupted. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience in the independent space to bear in the more interconnected, multi-platform landscape that Donna and her team are building at NBCUniversal Studio Group,” Jenkins said.
