Comcast appointed Michael Cavanagh as the company’s co-CEO in January 2026. This is a move that appears to set up a succession plan for Comcast founder and chairman Brian Roberts.
Roberts, 66, will continue as chairman and co-CEO, and Cavanagh will be appointed to the Comcast Board of Directors (although Cavanagh will not serve on the board committee).
Cavanagh, 59, takes the helm of Comcast in challenging moments in the traditional media sector. Comcast’s large cable business is eliminating customers when moving to broadband venues for entertainment, information and sports. And the company splits old school cable assets from NBCUniversal into a new entity called Versant, broadcast and streaming assets are MSNBC (quickly become MS), E! , bets on growing more without focusing on cable outlets like CNBC, Syfy, etc.
Cavanagh’s existence has grown with Comcast in recent years. He shepherds the company’s revenue call with investors, with Roberts emphasis on bigger industry issues and future initiatives. Cavanagh was then monitored for operations at NBCU after former CEO Jeff Shell left.
“Since joining Comcast 10 years ago, Mike has proven himself a reliable and supportive leader,” Roberts said in a prepared statement. “He is the ideal person to help us lead Comcast as we manage the pivot we do to drive growth across the company. Mike and I work seamlessly together.
Cavanagh joined Comcast as Chief Financial Officer in 2015 and confronted the president in October 2022. He previously spent more than 20 years in Financial Services, including co-CEO of JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate and Investment Bank. He also served as JPMorgan Chase’s CFO for six years, helping the company “navigate the financial crisis well.”
“Comcast is a special company with exceptional business and an incredible team. We are honored to work with Brian and the entire Comcast NBCuniversal Leadership team during this exciting and transformative time in the industry,” Cavanagh said in a statement.
Above photo: Michael Cabana (left) and Brian Roberts
