His performance impressed executives at Comcast, NBC’s parent company. In May 2020, Jeff Shell, then-CEO of NBCUniversal, put Mr. Conde accountable for the NBC News Group, replacing news veteran Andrew Lack.
Privately, Mr. Shell acknowledged that Mr. Conde had a special background than his predecessor.
Shell said there are three kinds of leaders who lead news organizations, based on two people acquainted with his remarks. “Journalists, politicians and businessmen,” Shell said, each people recalled. “Cesar is a politician.”
Under Mr. Conde’s watch, the news division has expanded its digital efforts, and its flagship MSNBC and NBC programs proceed to enjoy strong rankings. On Friday, Comcast CEO Mike Cavanagh praised Conde’s management of the media “during a period of transition.” “News Group’s performance is a testament to his great leadership, especially during challenging times,” he said in an announcement.
Some of Conde’s moves raised eyebrows within the NBC newsroom.
He arranged for on-air guest lists to be sent to his office in order that he could drop in and greet influential and influential guests. When George W. Bush was interviewed by his daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, on “Today” in 2021 asked his office to send his biography to the previous president upfront, based on two people acquainted with the arrangement. (Mr. Conde often speaks with admiration of his time working as a staffer for then-Secretary of State Colin Powell under Bush.)
Conde also retained his board seats at Pepsi and Walmart, from which he earned greater than $640,000 last 12 months, based on financial records. News leaders typically attempt to avoid even the looks of a conflict of interest. Mr. Conde said he was withdrawing from any editorial decisions involving each firms. (He can be a board member of the Aspen Institute, which sponsors the Festival of Ideas; in 2021, under Conde’s leadership, NBC News Group signed the corporate be the institute’s media partner.)
