Seasoned executive and public company director to bring significant expertise in strategy, brand development and capital markets to the future publicly traded company board
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) today announced that David Novak will become Chairman of the Board of Directors of “SpinCo,” the company’s planned spin-off of select media brands and digital businesses. Mr. Novak previously served as the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of YUM! Brands, Inc. and will bring nearly 40 years of experience leading and growing well-known consumer brands to the new company’s board.
SpinCo will be a leading independent publicly traded media company comprised of well-known brands, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel, along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and SportsEngine.
“As Comcast separates this business, we’re excited that SpinCo will have the talent and success of David Novak as its new Chairman,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation. “With David’s track record of driving growth and value creation at public companies, he is the ideal person to assemble and lead a world-class board. David has been an invaluable member of Comcast’s board and widely recognized as a top CEO – I’m confident that he will work with Mark Lazarus to give the new company a distinct advantage from day one.”
“David is highly regarded as a strategic leader with a unique skillset and decades of experience overseeing portfolios of brands and executing the successful spin-off of Yum! Brands from PepsiCo,” said Mark Lazarus, prospective Chief Executive Officer, SpinCo. “We look forward to working closely with David as we develop SpinCo’s long-term strategy to maximize the value and potential of our iconic media assets.”
Mr. Novak is the Founder and CEO of David Novak Leadership, a digital leadership development platform which teaches vital skills to transform people into better leaders. As CEO of YUM! Brands, Inc. – one of the world’s largest restaurant companies – from 2000 to 2014, he helped grow the company into a global powerhouse of leading brands with a renowned culture across its franchises.
“It’s an honor to be appointed Chair of SpinCo’s board during this dynamic time in the media industry,” said Mr. Novak. “This is a unique opportunity to build around SpinCo’s incredible portfolio of assets alongside some of the top talent in this ever-evolving industry. I look forward to working closely with Mark and the rest of the leadership team to create the leading independent, modern media company.”
In addition to his current position on Comcast’s Board of Directors, Mr. Novak sits on the Board of the Lift-a-Life Novak Family Foundation. He previously served as Chairman of the YUM! Brands Board from 2001 to 2014, Executive Chairman of the YUM! Brands Board from 2015 to 2016 and a Director on the JPMorgan Chase Board from 2001-2012. Mr. Novak has contributed to or spearheaded a number of philanthropic endeavors throughout his career, including Lead4Change, The Novak Leadership Institute at the University of Missouri and the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, and is the author of several books dedicated to developing leaders at every stage of life as well as the host of the popular How Leaders Lead Podcast.
Mr. Novak has received multiple accolades for his CEO leadership, including being named “2012 CEO of the Year” by Chief Executive magazine, one of the world’s “30 Best CEOs” by Barron’s, one of the “Top People in Business” by Fortune Magazine, and one of the “100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review. He received the Horatio Alger Award for his commitment to philanthropy and higher education, and the 2012 United Nation’s World Food Program Leadership Award for Yum! Brands World Hunger Relief.
Upon completion of the spin-off from Comcast, SpinCo will be an industry-leading news, sports and entertainment business with a defined strategic growth strategy, dedicated management team and stable of marquee brands that will reach over 65 million U.S. households. The company will be ideally positioned to provide a diverse and differentiated content offering with live news, sports and entertainment at the centerpiece of its brand-based growth strategy. The assets making up SpinCo generate approximately $7 billion in revenue annually and the company will be focused on growing its beloved brands, building audience and expanding monetization.
Mr. Novak will formally assume the role upon completion of the spin-off, at which time he will vacate his current position on Comcast’s Board of Directors, which he has held since December 2016.
Discover the latest trends and insights—explore the Business Insights Journal for up-to-date strategies and industry breakthroughs!
