NBCUniversal Appoints Gus O’Brien as Head of International Networks and D2C, While Ken Bettsteller Transitions to Advisory Role
NBCUniversal Elevates Gus O’Brien to President of International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer
NBCUniversal Media Group has announced the promotion of Gus O’Brien to President of International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer, effective April 1. O’Brien’s promotion comes as the current President, Ken Bettsteller, transitions into an advisory role after nearly seven years in leadership and two decades with NBCUniversal and its parent company, Comcast.
Bettsteller’s new focus will concentrate on key international ventures within NBCUniversal Media Group. During his tenure, he has been pivotal in guiding global networks, making significant contributions to the company’s international strategy.
In addition to O’Brien’s new role, Hendrik McDermott will expand his responsibilities to include all international Direct-to-Consumer operations as the Managing Director of International DTC & EMEA, Canada. This adjustment aligns with the tenth anniversary of reality streaming service Hayu, which McDermott will also continue to lead in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
NBCU International Networks and Direct-to-Consumer manages operations across more than 110 territories, featuring international branches of popular networks such as Universal TV, Syfy, and Bravo, along with the streaming service Hayu and aggregation platform Universal+.
Matt Strauss, Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, expressed confidence in O’Brien’s capabilities, stating, “Gus is a worthy successor to Ken Bettsteller – who has been a formidable leader in our company for over two decades – and I’m excited for Gus to bring his innovative leadership to the broader group, working with the international management team to further strengthen and support these brands.”
O’Brien previously served as Managing Director for Latin America since 2020, where he successfully expanded the business from a purely cable-focused model into the streaming realm with Universal+, while also managing joint ventures in Brazil and Spanish-speaking Latin America.
