NBCU expands Donati’s role into kids, lifestyle

Duccio Donati

Comcast’s NBCUniversal International has appointed Duccio Donati to take on the newly created role of executive vice-president for lifestyle and kids.

Donati will report to Kevin MacLellan, NBCU’s chairman for global distribution and international.

The position sees Donati broaden his on-going oversight of E! Entertainment Television outside the US, adding international responsibility for the DreamWorks Channel, which features characters from the Comcast-owned DreamWorks Animation (DWA).

Donati will also collaborate with leaders across NBCU’s international business to maximise the full range of its lifestyle and kids’ assets, including E!, Bravo, Oxygen and DreamWorks.

He will explore opportunities to drive expansion of its US brands and ventures across these genres in each of NBCU’s three regional hubs across international including EMEA, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

He previously held the role of EVP for E! and Style from July 2013.

MacLellan said: “Taking a portfolio approach to managing these two key genres aligns with NBCU’s organisational approach to cable brands in the US.

“Duccio is uniquely positioned to take on this role having had extensive commercial and operational experience across both the licensing and channels business, a track record of success with E! International and an established role connecting NBCU’s international and US brand teams.”

Recently, NBCU rebranded its children’s network, Sprout, as Universal Kids after acquiring DWA last year. The new look will launch September 9.