Veteran NBC Executive Calls It a Day

Jerry Petry, a key finance and business staffer who’s been at the network for more than 30 years, is retiring

Much-respected NBC veteran Jerry Petry is leaving the network after a nearly 34-year run.

Petry, currently executive VP of administration for the NBC Universal TV Group, has told Peacock staffers and friends that he’s decided to retire at the end of this month. His boss, NBC U TV Group west coast president Marc Graboff, confirmed the news in an email to staffers, saying he had "mixed feelings" about Petry’s exit.

"On one hand, I am sorry to see Jerry leave the company, as he is one of the most experienced and respected executives in our business, and has had a very successful career with NBC Universal," Graboff wrote. "At the same time, I am personally very happy for Jerry and his wife Mary Joy, who have been planning this for a long time. After 34 years with NBC, Jerry has been a great mentor to many of us (especially me), as well as a great source of experience and institutional knowledge. It is hard to imagine Jerry not being a part of our day-to-day activities around here, but something tells me you haven’t seen the last him."

Except for a run in the military, Petry has never worked anywhere else but NBC. He told Variety, which first reported his exit Sunday evening, that the pending Comcast-NBC U merger seemed to be a good time to step aside.

"My plans for the immediate future are to continue as Chair of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation, continue to participate on some other education and non-profit boards, and remain on the faculty at California State University Northridge," Petry wrote in his email to colleagues.

Before assuming his current role in 2006, Petry ran business operations and sales for NBC U Television Distribution. He had also served as executive VP of NBC Enterprises and worked in finance and business affairs for NBC Productions, among other key roles.

Petry’s NBC career began in 1976, working for both the network and Los Angeles flagship KNBC.
 

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