Shields to guard NBC Universal IP

Exec named VP global policy strategies, alliances

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Chief NBC Universal spokesman Cory Shields has been tapped to oversee the conglom's interest in promoting intellectual property protection.

As exec VP of global policy strategies and alliances, Shields will "play a key role in advancing NBC Universal's global agenda for strengthening IP protection for the company's content around the world," the company said.

Shields will report to NBC Universal prexy/CEO Jeff Zucker, who announced the appointment Monday, as well as exec VP/general counsel Rick Cotton.

Shields also will continue his communications role until a succession plan is announced. Shields works closely with fellow communications execs Rebecca Marks in Los Angeles and Kathy Kelly-Brown in New York.

"The lifeblood of a media company is its intellectual property," Zucker said in announcing the appointment.

Shields, who had served as exec VP of communications since 2006, will work with NBC U's global legal and government relations team, as it pushes the conglom's antipiracy agenda.

Before his most recent stint at NBC U, Shields was senior VP of corporate communications at Sony BMG, as well as chief communications officer at J. Walter Thompson. He spent seven years before that at NBC, first joining in 1997 as director of NBC News media relations.

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