About this item
Named president and CEO of NBC at the age of 43, he faced a two?headed dragon: on one hand, distrust from the network people deeply skeptical of the "suit" from GE, their new corporate parent; and on the other, fiscal oversight demands from a cautious, conservative institution reluctant to invest heavily in a media business they didn't understand. For the next 20 years, he managed to navigate the fine line between the two and in the process completely reinvent -- and save -- the network. His name is Bob Wright. Under his leadership, a traditional network, struggling to survive a changing landscape, was transformed into a $45 billion cable and internet giant. Frequently flying under the GE corporate radar, Wright and his hand?picked team spearheaded what amounts to a revolution in broadcast television: -Embracing, rather than resisting, cable -Launching alternative news channels CNBC and MSNBC, along with MSNBC.
About the Author
Bob Wright is co-founder, along with his wife, Suzanne, of Autism Speaks, which has become a principal global advocacy and research funding organization for this condition. He served as Vice Chairman of General Electric, President and Chief Executive Officer of NBC, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal. Bob had one of the longest and most successful tenures of any media company chief executive, with more than two decades at the helm of one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. He has a strong history of philanthropy and community service, for which he has received numerous awards and accolades. He serves on the boards of Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, AMC Networks Inc., and is a Trustee of New York-Presbyterian and The University Hospitals of Columbia and Cornell. He is also Chairman and CEO of the Palm Beach Civic Association and Senior Advisor of Lee Equity Partners. Bob Wright is also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Rand Corporation and a former Board of Director member of EMI. He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and of the Law School of University of Virginia. The Wrights have three children and six grandchildren.
