S
teve Burke is expected to step down as CEO of
NBCUniversal next year and is likely to hand the reins to
Jeff Shell, who is now chairman of
NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment, multiple sources tell
Variety.
Burke’s NBC contract formally expires in August 2020, but sources say he could depart earlier in the year. Shell, who is now based in Los Angeles, will split his time between New York and the West Coast should he assume the CEO post, according to people familiar with his plans.
In January, Burke enacted a
dramatic shakeup of NBCUni leadership that placed Shell in prime position to succeed him, industry insiders noted at the time.