By Mrinmay Dey and Daybreak Chmielewski

(Reuters) – NBCUniversal Chief Govt Jeff Shell (LON:) is leaving after acknowledging an inappropriate relationship with a girl within the firm, following a grievance that prompted an investigation, mother or father firm Comcast Corp (NASDAQ:) stated on Sunday.

“I had an inappropriate relationship with a girl within the firm, which I deeply remorse,” Shell stated in a press release.

“I am really sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down.”

Shell, who had been with Comcast for about 20 years, leaves instantly. He didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The previous chairman of NBCUniversal Movie and Leisure took over as CEO in 2020, changing Steve Burke. He oversaw the media firm’s broad portfolio of companies, together with the Common movie studio and tv enterprise, the Peacock streaming service and Common’s theme parks.

Comcast didn’t instantly identify a successor.

At a time when rival studios have been investing closely in streaming in a race so as to add subscribers, Shell adopted a extra conservative strategy.

Peacock, conceived beneath his predecessor, would protect the acquainted tv enterprise mannequin – which depends on promoting – as an alternative of relying completely on subscription income. The subscription strategy has been embraced by Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:). , which lengthy averted commercials.

Peacock has made positive aspects, although it’s smaller than rival providers. It surpassed 20 million subscribers within the fourth quarter of 2022, due to the FIFA World Cup and the addition of NBC reveals. The division’s losses additionally deepened from a yr earlier.

That’s one problem Shell’s successor will confront, together with the decline of the standard tv enterprise.

Shell’s senior crew will now report on to Comcast President Mike Cavanagh, Comcast stated in a company-wide e-mail that was made out there to Reuters.

“When our ideas and insurance policies are violated, we’ll at all times transfer rapidly to take applicable motion, as we now have finished right here,” Cavanagh and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts stated within the e-mail.

Comcast stated the investigation into the grievance towards Shell was led by exterior counsel. It didn’t present different particulars.

In 2020, NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer left the corporate after disclosing a settlement with a girl with whom he had a consensual affair years in the past.

Shell joins different high-profile executives who’ve misplaced their jobs in recent times over accusations of improper conduct or sexual harassment.

In 2019, Warner Bros Chairman and Chief Govt Kevin Tsujihara resigned as one among Hollywood’s strongest studios investigated a report that he improperly helped an actress receive roles on the studio.