Comcast Reveals Board Members for Versant Media Group

Comcast has announced the names of the directors who will join the board of Versant Media Group, a company spun out of the media and cable giant. The board will be led by chairman David Novak, a longtime Comcast board member and former CEO of Yum! Brands.

Comcast has announced the names of the directors who will join the board of Versant Media Group, a company spun out of the media and cable giant. The board will be led by chairman David Novak, a longstanding Comcast board member and former CEO of Yum! Brands. The announcement marks a significant milestone as Versant Media Group prepares to become a publicly traded entity, housing the bulk of NBCUniversal’s cable networks and certain digital businesses.

Versant Media Group will comprise USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, and Golf Channel, along with complementary digital assets such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, and SportsEngine. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts will own one-third of the voting interests in Versant but will not serve on the board or management team. The new company aims to reach over 65 million U.S. households and generate about $7 billion in revenue annually [1].

The board of directors includes a diverse group of experienced professionals. Mark Lazarus, CEO of Versant, will serve alongside David Novak, who will resign from his position on Comcast’s board at the time of the spin-off. Other notable members include Rebecca Campbell, former chairman of international content and operations at the Walt Disney Co.; Creighton Condon, of counsel at global law firm A&O Shearman; Michael Conway, former CEO of Starbucks North America; David Eun, former president of Samsung Electronics; Gerald L. Hassell, former chairman and CEO of the Bank of New York Mellon; Scott Mahoney, chairman and CEO of Peter Millar; Maritza Montiel, former deputy CEO and vice chairman of Deloitte’s U.S. business; and Len Potter, founder, president, and chief investment officer of Wildcat Capital Management [1].

David Novak commented, “I am pleased to welcome this accomplished forward-looking team to our future board of directors. Their collective expertise and perspectives will strengthen our governance and support Versant’s future success.” Mark Lazarus added, “The announcement of the future board marks a critical milestone as we define our long-term strategy and advance the value of our iconic media portfolio. I look forward to collaborating with this distinguished group as we establish a leading independent media company” [1].

The spin-off is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, positioning Versant as a standalone media entity. The appointment of a distinguished board signals Comcast's commitment to the long-term success and independence of Versant Media Group.

References:
[1] https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/versant-board-of-directors-comcast-spinoff-company-1236468998/
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/SAIC/saic-appoints-david-urban-to-board-of-z2q6i9crg6yg.html