NBCUniversal’s President of content acquisitions & strategy Frances Manfredi announced her departure after more than two decades with the company. Heather Olander will also be leaving her position as Executive Vice President of alternative for USA, Syfy, and Peacock. Vivian Cannon was promoted to EVP. She will oversee drama development at Universal Television following Erin Underhill's promotion to President of the production division.
Manfredi was appointed to her most recent role in December last year and worked on negotiations to secure the US version of “The Office" on Peacock. She also oversaw NBCU’s first deal with Netflix in 2006 and has obtained several roles in US-focused distribution. She came from CBS upon joining in 2000. Her exit follows the creation of NBCU’s Television & streaming division earlier this year, led by Mark Lazarus. He has since brought in former Warner Bros. exec Susan Rovner to become chairman of entertainment at NBCU’s new-look TV and streaming division, while Frances Berwick leads the business side of the operation. As part of that restructuring, Manfredi’s role was moved into the remit of Val Boreland, who oversees acquisitions for entertainment and lifestyle, as well as Peacock and NBCU’s networks.
Cannon’s promotion follows Erin Underhill’s move to become president of production at Universal Television. Cannon has majorly contributed to series sucha as NBC’s New Amsterdam, which was recently renewed for three seasons, and upcoming CBS drama The Equalizer, which will premiere after the Super Bowl. She joined in 2017, having previously been at Neal Moritz’s Original Film, where she exec produced AMC drama Preacher and Showtime’s The Big C. “Anyone who’s had the pleasure of working with Vivian knows how sharp, passionate and tenacious she is,” Underhill said. “She brings a wealth of talent relationships from her producing days, and a love for all forms of storytelling, especially podcasts.”
During her time at NBCU, Olander helped build USA’s unscripted slate, which includes the long-running favorite “Chrisley Knows Best” as well as more recent reboots of “Temptation Island” and “The Biggest Loser.” Before joining the company, she held development and programming roles at CBS and Viacom.
Olander’s departure comes nine years after she first joined NBCUniversal as SVP of alternative development and programming in the USA. She later oversaw unscripted programming for Syfy and the recently launched streaming service Peacock. Olander is the latest executive to depart NBCUniversal following the company’s restructuring earlier this year. Bill McGoldrick, president of original content and the executive to whom Olander most recently reported, stepped down last month.
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