Jeff Shell’s NBCU exit followed an investigation into his relationship with a CNBC journalist

EXCLUSIVE: Multiple sources tell Deadline that the woman who filed the misconduct complaint against NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was CNBC anchor and Senior International Correspondent Hadley Gamble.

NBCU parent company Comcast announced earlier today that Shell is going to an investigation by outside counsel; Shell admitted that “I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman at the company, which I deeply regret.” We reached out to Gamble for comment; not yet received a reply.

Deadline has learned that Shell was in a relationship with Gamble that began about 11 years ago and lasted sporadically until a few years ago when it ended. Shell served as chairman of NBCUniversal International from 2011 to 2013 before becoming chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment in 2020 and eventually CEO of NBCU.

The complaint was filed last month, Deadline has learned. The case went through the proper channels to Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts and was quickly settled, sources said. The outside law firm hired to conduct the investigation presented its findings to top Comcast brass last week, we understand.

Deadline has learned that there was communication between Shell and Gamble via corporate email, which the investigation revealed.

In their company memo about Shell’s departure, Mike Cavanagh, president of Roberts and Comcast, implied that the former NBCU executive violated company policy.

“You must rely on your leaders to provide a safe and respectful workplace,” they wrote. “When our principles and policies are violated, we will always act quickly to take appropriate action, as we did here.”

At this point, we understand that Shell is quietly leaving to spend time with his family.

We hear Shell is represented by Hollywood heavyweight attorney Patricia Glaser. Glaser Weil Fink’s namesake, Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP, did not respond to Deadline’s request for comment.

Deadline also contacted NBCUni because Gamble filed a complaint against Shell. A company representative told us there was nothing more to add beyond the brief announcement released earlier today, citing privacy concerns.

In his statement, the long-married Shell also said: “I am truly sorry for letting down my colleagues at Comcast and NBCUniversal, they are the most talented people in the business and have had the opportunity to work with them. over the past 10 years has been a privilege.”

No replacement for Shell has yet been found. In their memo to employees, Roberts and Cavanagh said Shell’s senior team will report directly to Cavanagh in the meantime.

Gamble covers energy, geopolitics and financial markets and anchors capital connection from CNBC’s Middle East headquarters in Abu Dhabi Global Markets. She also hosted the CNBC documentary franchise Access: Middle East, where she speaks to world leaders, international CEOs and philanthropists. Past guests have included Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, King Abdullah of Jordan, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Gamble was the last western journalist to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2021, before the war in Ukraine.

Her CNBC bio also said, “Hadley is a passionate advocate for women in the workplace and their advancement around the world. She hosted the first women’s business forum in Saudi Arabia and provided exclusive content to CNBC as the kingdom began its decades lifted old driving ban.”