Jeff Zucker Named Executive in Residence

Jeff Zucker, former president and CEO of NBC Universal, has been named an Executive in Residence at the School. 

A five-time Emmy Award winner, Zucker began his storied 24-year career with NBC in 1986 working as a researcher for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics. At age 26 he was named executive producer of NBC News’ “Today.” Under his direction, the program redefined morning television, becoming the nation’s most-watched morning news show and the most profitable program on television. Most recently, Zucker served as president and CEO of NBC Universal from 2007-11. Prior to being named CEO, he served as president of the NBC Universal Television Group and of NBC Entertainment. 

During his television tenure, Zucker led the company in creating an array of cable news and entertainment channels and maximizing the cross-platform opportunities of its numerous TV assets. 

“Zucker’s professional accomplishments and experience make him an excellent candidate for this role,” said Donald Waite III ’66, director of the School’s Executives in Residence Program. “The one-on-one career advice that students gain from professionals through the program is invaluable in helping them realize the real-world applications of their studies.” 

Zucker graduated from Harvard University, where he served as president of the Harvard Crimson. He is a member of the board of directors of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Temple Emanu-El, the Robin Hood Foundation, the American Film Institute, the Paley Center for Media, and the Museum of the Moving Image. 

Among the first of its kind when it was founded nearly three decades ago, the Executives in Residence Program integrates senior executives into the life of the School. Current executives in residence include experts in media, investment banking, private equity, and management, from such companies as Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. These retired or semi-retired leaders also teach classes, participate in student-run conferences, and organize informal activities for students with common interests.

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