NBCUniversal’s Washington chief is latest to depart in wake of Comcast merger

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Another top NBCUniversal executive is exiting in the aftermath of the acquisition of the entertainment company by cable giant Comcast Corp.

This time, it’s veteran Capitol Hill insider Bob Okun, who has overseen NBC’s Capitol Hill lobbying efforts since 1995 as vice president, Washington, who is leaving.

The depature of Okun comes just over a month after Comcast hired Kyle McSlarrow away from his job as president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. to become its president of Comcast/NBCUniversal Washington.

However, Okun is not severing his ties to Comcast and NBC completely. He’s opening up his own lobbying shop and will count Comcast as a client.

‘Now that we are becoming an integrated, new company, I am excited to fulfill my professional dream after 30 years in Washington to start a firm which will bring together politics, policy, and business,’ Okun said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Paula Madison, NBCUniversal’s executive vice president and chief diversity officer, announced her retirement, as did Don Browne, the president of Telemundo.

-- Joe Flint