O’Brien will assume this new role on April 1, while Ken Bettsteller, the current group president, will move into an advisory role.
NBCUniversal Media Group announced today that Gus O’Brien has been promoted to President of International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer.
O’Brien will assume this new role on April 1, while Ken Bettsteller, the current group president, will move into an advisory role, focusing on key international projects for NBCUniversal Media Group. The announcement was made by Matt Strauss, Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.
“Our International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer portfolio brings some of our most beloved brands to audiences around the world, including a suite of popular channels, the hybrid linear/non-linear service Universal+, and the reality TV SVOD service Hayu,” Strauss said.
“Gus is a worthy successor to Ken Bettsteller, who has been a key leader at our company for more than two decades, and I’m excited for him to bring his innovative leadership to the group as a whole, working alongside the international management team to further strengthen and support these brands.”
O’Brien assumes this expanded role after serving as Managing Director, Latin America, a position he has held since 2020. Since then, he and his team have managed long-term strategic partnerships in Latin America and Brazil, and led the transition from a cable-centric portfolio to streaming with the launch of Universal+.
In parallel, Hendrik McDermott will expand his current responsibility at the head of Europe, Middle East and Africa Networks & DTC, and of Hayu, which this month celebrates its tenth anniversary, to incorporate all Direct-to-Consumer operations within the group’s international footprint, as Managing Director, International DTC & EMEA, Canada.
