That other opportunity that Kyle McSlarrow was leaving the NCTA for? Comcast/NBCUniversal president in Washington, D.C.
McSlarrow will join the company in early April, responsible for some business operations and also for public policy in Washington.
On the operations side, Comcast said, McSlarrow will focus on the customer experience and product development in the D.C. area. He is expected to provide input on customer experience on a corporate level, as well.
Comcast also said he will help lead strategic planning around the extension of Comcast business services at the federal and state government levels.
McSlarrow has an extensive political background, including many appointed jobs and having run for office himself, and Comcast is going to take as much advantage of that as the NCTA did.
“Kyle has been a tremendous leader and tireless advocate for the cable and media industry in Washington, D.C. He is widely respected throughout the industry for his leadership, deep understanding of the cable and programming business, and ability to manage the interest of a broad spectrum of major corporations,” said Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts. “Kyle also brings a terrific mix of business skills and broad management capabilities to our cable operations. His interests in technology, new product development and customer service will be a real asset to our Washington, D.C.-area operations.”
Cox Communications President Patrick Esser, as chairman of the NCTA board, said: “On behalf of the entire NCTA board, I want to congratulate Kyle and Comcast on Kyle’s appointment to this prominent new position. Kyle will be a great asset for Comcast just as he was a bold and visionary leader of NCTA, and we’re especially glad that he’ll remain within the cable family. We wish Kyle all the best as he opens this new chapter of his career.”
The NCTA is in the process of identifying McSlarrow’s successor.
McSlarrow served as president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association since March 2005. His efforts there led CED to name him Person of the Year in 2008.
Prior to joining NCTA, he served as the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. He has held numerous positions, including serving as the national chairman for the Quayle 2000 presidential campaign, chief of staff for U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell and deputy chief of staff and chief counsel for Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole and Trent Lott.