NBCUniversal CEO ousted after having ‘inappropriate relationship’ with coworker

Shell, who made $21.6 million per year, risked his high earnings by going against company policy and admitting to executives that he was having an "inappropriate relationship" with another woman at the company. NBCUniversal made the announcement that Shell had been terminated in an email sent to employees on Sunday, according to CNBC.

The findings were revealed when an outside company was hired to investigate a complaint against Shell. Shell is currently married to Laura Fay Shell, who previously worked for the City of Los Angeles, Daily Mail reports.

"Today is my last day as CEO of NBCUniversal. I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret," Shell said in a statement. "I'm truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege."

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and President Mike Cavanagh released a joint statement on the matter and said, "We are disappointed to share this news with you. We built this company on a culture of integrity. Nothing is more important than how we treat each other. You should count on your leaders to create a safe and respectful workplace."

Adding, "When our principles and policies are violated, we will always move quickly to take appropriate action, as we have done here."

In 2020, the vice president of NBCUniversal, Ron Meyer, was ousted from the company after improperly disclosing that he was ordered to pay a settlement to a woman he reportedly had a "consensual affair" with. Shell is the second executive to be ousted in recent years.