NBCUniversal Promotes Gus O’Brien

NBCUniversal has promoted Gus O’Brien, currently managing director of Latin America, to president of international networks and direct-to-consumer.

O’Brien moves into this position from his role as managing director of LatAm, which he has held since 2020. In that role, he and his team managed longstanding joint ventures for Spanish Latam and Brazil and pivoted a cable networks portfolio to streaming.

O’Brien will assume the new role on April 1, as Ken Bettsteller, outgoing president, will move into an advisory role.

“Our international networks and direct-to-consumer portfolio brings some of our most beloved brands to audiences around the world, including a suite of popular networks, the hybrid linear/nonlinear service Universal+ and the all-reality SVOD service Hayu,” said Matt Strauss, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group. “Gus is a worthy successor to Ken Bettsteller—who has been a formidable leader in our company for over two decades—and I’m excited for Gus to bring his innovative leadership to the broader group, working with the international management team to further strengthen and support these brands.”

Concurrently, Hendrik McDermott will expand his current remit leading Europe, Middle East and Africa Networks and direct-to-consumer and Hayu to become managing director of international DTC and EMEA and Canada.