NBC Sports Group Adds Rob Simmelkjaer, Promotes Earl Marshall to CFO

Rob Simmelkjaer, a former top ESPN executive, has joined NBC Sports Group as Senior Vice President, NBC Sports Ventures, and Earl Marshall, formerly the Chief Financial Officer of the NBC Sports Cable Group was promoted to Chief Financial Officer, NBC Sports Group.

Simmlekjaer most recently served as ESPN’s Vice President of International Development and Corporate Projects and managed ESPN/Disney’s Olympic relationship since 2007. He will lead the NBC Sports Ventures unit, a set of NBC-owned businesses including the Alliance of Action Sports (Alli), the American Century Golf Championship, the ADT Golf Skills Challenge, the Heads Up Poker Championship and the National Dog Show.

Additionally, he will be responsible for leading international business development for the NBC Sports Group, including for Golf Channel, NBC Sports and other businesses, and will oversee NBC Sports Group’s stake in Universal Sports. He will report Gary Zenkel, President of NBC Olympics and Executive Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, NBC Sports Group.

“Rob is a smart and strategic thinker with a wealth of experience and a terrific reputation across the industry,” said Zenkel. “As we look to broaden our global interests, his impeccable international relationships are a valued asset and a perfect fit for the NBC Sports Group.”

Marshall, who will report to chairman Mark Lazarus, will have financial oversight of the NBC Sports Group consisting of NBC Sports, Olympics, VERSUS, Golf Channel, the 11 regional sports networks and digital assets. He served as the Chief Financial Officer, NBC Sports Cable Group since the Comcast/NBCUniversal merger in January 2011. Prior to the merger, Marshall served as Interim President of Golf Channel.

He joined Golf Channel in 2008 as Senior Vice President, Finance, Strategy and Business Development and was responsible for overseeing finance, accounting and new business development, as well as developing and executing strategy for both the linear channel and new media area. A 13-year Comcast veteran, Marshall led the Comcast Programming Division’s business develop effort from 2006-2008 as VP of Business Development, and, prior to that, spent eight years in Comcast’s Corporate Development department, primarily overseeing merger and acquisition activities for Comcast’s cable operations.

“Earl’s background as a CFO and operating executive has been invaluable as we continue to structure the NBC Sports Group,” said Lazarus. “His experience in both financial matters and rights acquisitions has been and will continue to be a benefit for our group.”