EGN NEWS DESK
His efficiency impressed executives at NBC’s mother or father firm, Comcast. In May 2020, Jeff Shell, then the NBCUniversal chief government, put Mr. Conde in command of the NBC News Group, changing a veteran newsman, Andrew Lack.
Privately, Mr. Shell acknowledged that Mr. Conde had a unique background from his predecessor.
According to 2 folks aware of his remarks, Mr. Shell stated there have been three kinds of leaders who ran information organizations. “Journalists, politicians and businesspeople,” Mr. Shell stated, the 2 folks recalled. “Cesar is a politician.”
Under Mr. Conde’s watch, the information division has expanded its digital efforts, and MSNBC’s and NBC’s flagship TV packages have continued to attract good scores. On Friday, Mike Cavanagh, the president of Comcast, praised Mr. Conde’s stewardship “throughout a time of transition” in media. “The efficiency of the News Group speaks to his nice management particularly throughout difficult instances,” he stated in an announcement.
Some of Mr. Conde’s strikes raised eyebrows within the NBC newsroom.
He organized for lists of on-air company to be forwarded to his workplace, so he may drop by and greet influential and highly effective guests. When Mr. Bush was interviewed on “Today” in 2021 by his daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, Mr. Conde requested his workplace to ahead his biography to the previous president upfront, in response to two folks aware of the association. (Mr. Conde typically speaks admiringly about his time working as a fellow for Secretary of State Colin Powell beneath Mr. Bush.)
Mr. Conde additionally retained his board seats at Pepsi and Walmart, from which he earned greater than $640,000 in compensation final 12 months, in response to monetary filings. News leaders normally try to keep away from even the looks of battle of curiosity. Mr. Conde has stated he recuses himself from any editorial selections involving the 2 firms. (He can be a trustee on the Aspen Institute, which sponsors the Ideas Festival; in 2021, beneath Mr. Conde, NBC News Group signed a partnership to be the institute’s media associate.)
