Brian L. Roberts

Last updated
Brian Roberts
Brian Roberts Comcast.jpg
Born (1959-06-28) June 28, 1959 (age 65)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (BS)
Occupation(s)Businessman
Executive
Philanthropist
TitleChairman and CEO, Comcast
SpouseAileen Kennedy Roberts
Children3
Relatives Ralph J. Roberts (father)

Brian L. Roberts (born June 28, 1959) is an American entrepreneur, business executive and billionaire. He is the chairman and CEO of Comcast, a multinational telecommunications and media company providing entertainment and communications products and services, founded by his late father, Ralph J. Roberts. Brian was named president of Comcast in 1990 before becoming the CEO in 2002. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Roberts was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Ralph J. Roberts, the founder of Comcast Corporation, and Suzanne (née Fleisher), an actress and playwright. [2] [3] [4] His maternal grandfather, Alfred W. Fleisher, was a real estate investor and philanthropist. Roberts graduated from Germantown Academy and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. [5]

Career

Comcast

Roberts began his career at Comcast after graduating from Wharton in 1981, as a manager of cable system marketing. In 1987, he was promoted to executive vice president. [1]

Roberts assumed the role of President of Comcast in 1990 at the age of 31, when the company's annual revenue was $657 million. [6] The company's annual revenue grew significantly since then, reaching $122 billion by 2024. [7]

In 1997, Roberts coordinated a deal with Bill Gates for Microsoft to invest $1 billion in Comcast, which supported the expansion of its broadband network. [8] [9] As of 2024 the network is the largest Internet Service Provider in the U.S. [10] [11] [12]

In 2001, Comcast acquired AT&T Broadband for $72 billion. [13] The deal allowed Comcast to become the largest cable operator in the world. [14] In 2002, Roberts became the company's CEO; he subsequently became chairman of the board in 2004. [15] [16]

In 2011, Comcast acquired NBCUniversal, expanding the company's portfolio in the media space. [17] Through this deal, Roberts was able to integrate Comcast’s cable networks with broadcast television and film production. [17] [18]

In 2018, Comcast acquired the British media and telecommunications company, Sky. [19] The acquisition, according to Roberts, gave Comcast an opportunity for international growth. [20]

During Roberts’s tenure, the company’s customer base expanded from 2.4 million in 1990 to 52 million in 2024. [21]

In 2023, Roberts's total compensation at Comcast was $35.5 million, up 11% from the previous year. [22]

NCTA and CableLabs

Roberts previously served as chairman of the board of directors of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) from 1995 to 1996, a period during which the landmark deregulatory 1996 Telecommunications Act was enacted. [23] [24] He later returned to serve as chairman for two consecutive terms from 2005 to 2007. [24]

Additionally, Roberts was elected chairman of CableLabs, a research and development consortium for the cable industry, where he held the position for three consecutive terms [24]

Awards

Institutional Investor Magazine named Roberts as its top vote-getter for three years in a row (2004–06) in the Cable & Satellite category of their America's Best CEOs annual survey; and named Comcast as one of America's Most Shareholder-Friendly Companies in 2006. [25] Additionally, the magazine has included Roberts in its list of America's top CEOs on multiple occasions since 2003. [26] [27]

Roberts was the recipient of the 1994 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, [28] the 2004 Humanitarian Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and was the 2002 Walter Kaitz Foundation Honoree of the Year for his commitment to diversity in the cable industry. The Police Athletic League of Philadelphia honored Roberts with their 2002 award for his commitment to youth programs and community involvement. [29]

In 2011, Roberts was awarded the USC Shoah Foundation Institute's 2011 Ambassador for Humanity Award. [30] In 2021, he was a recipient of the centennial Philadelphia Award. [31] The following year, Roberts received the William Penn award, "the highest honor bestowed upon a business executive in Greater Philadelphia," according to the Chamber of Commerce. [32]

Community involvement

The Roberts family, led by Brian has made philanthropic contributions to various medical, educational, and cultural institutions. In 2006, they made a donation to help establish The Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine. [33]

In 2016, the family provided to support the creation of the Roberts Collaborative for Genetics and Individualized Medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. [34] In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Roberts family donated $5 million to the School District of Philadelphia to purchase Chromebooks for students to support virtual learning. [35] In 2021, they established the Roberts Family Professorship in Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine, along with the Katalin Karikó Fellowship Fund in Vaccine Development. [36]

Maccabiah Games

An All-American squash player, Roberts competed in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, earning a gold medal with the U.S. squash team in the 2005 Maccabiah Games, and silver medals in the 1981 Maccabiah Games, the 1985 Maccabiah Games, the 1997 Maccabiah Games, and the 2009 Maccabiah Games. [29] [37] On October 21, 2012, Roberts was honored by Maccabi USA as a 'Legend of the Maccabiah.' [38]

Politics

Roberts was a founding co-chair of Philadelphia 2000, the nonpartisan host committee for the 2000 Republican National Convention. The Pennsylvania Report named Roberts to the 2003 "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics, calling him "Pennsylvania’s most powerful businessman", and noted his influence with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. [39]

In 2003, Roberts was named to the PoliticsPA list of politically influential individuals. [40]

In December 2009, Roberts wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, endorsing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. [41]

Roberts has donated $90,600 to Democratic candidates/PACs, and $70,300 to Republican candidates/PACs. He has not donated to any political party or candidate since 2012. [42]

Brian L. Roberts with his father Ralph J. Roberts, founder of Comcast, at their Philadelphia headquarters in 1999 Ralph roberts brian roberts comcast.jpg
Brian L. Roberts with his father Ralph J. Roberts, founder of Comcast, at their Philadelphia headquarters in 1999

Personal life

Roberts and his wife, Aileen Kennedy Roberts, live in Philadelphia and have three children. Aileen is the chair of the Barnes Foundation. [43] [44]

In 2010, Roberts, along with his late brother, Douglas, and his father, presented his mother a Women's Image Network Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. [45] [46]

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References

  1. 1 2 Fabrikant, Geraldine (1991-02-08). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Son Succeeds Father As Comcast President". The New York Times. pp. D 6. Archived from the original on 2014-02-14.
  2. ↑ Kellie Patrick Gates (February 14, 2013). "Love: Suzanne (Fleisher) Roberts & Ralph J. Roberts". The Philadelphia Inquirer .
  3. ↑ Guttman, Nathan (2 March 2014). "Brian Roberts' Jewish Roots and Outsized Ambition Drive Comcast's Rise in Media". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  4. ↑ Cook, Bonnie L. (2020-04-20). "Suzanne F. Roberts, philanthropist, performer, and broadcaster, dies at 98". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. ↑ Philadelphia Inquirer: "A continual spotlight awaits a 'very private' Brian Roberts AT&T deal catapults Comcast's chief to the industry forefront" By Benjamin Y. Lowe December 21, 2001
  6. ↑ "Comcast Biography of Mr. Brian L. Roberts" . Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Form 10-K".
  8. ↑ "Microsoft invests $1 billion in Comcast". Deseret News. 1997-06-09.
  9. ↑ Derrick, Jayson (2022-01-23). "The Inside Story Of How Bill Gates And Microsoft Earned A 400% Return On Comcast - Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA)". Benzinga.
  10. ↑ Iscrupe, Lisa; Whatley, Hannah. "Xfinity Internet 2025 | Plans, Pricing & Availability". USA Today Home Internet.
  11. ↑ Trey, Paul (2024-12-09). "Xfinity Home Internet Review: Plans, Prices, Coverage and More". CNET.
  12. ↑ Anders, David (2025-01-08). "Best Cable Internet Providers for January 2025". CNET.
  13. ↑ Cohan, William D. (2024-01-10). "The Philadelphia Story". Puck. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10.
  14. ↑ Arango, Tim; Stelter, Brian (2009-11-12). "For Comcast's Chief, Content Led the Way". The New York Times.
  15. ↑ James, Meg (2018-06-10). "Brian Roberts has been the force behind Comcast's growth. Now he's in the hunt for Fox". Los Angeles Times.
  16. ↑ Kelner, Braden (2007-07-01). "Deal-Maker Who Built A National Media Company: Brian L. Roberts, W' 81". Wharton Magazine.
  17. 1 2 "Bold Leader Spotlight: Brian L. Roberts, CEO Comcast NBCUniversal". Bold Business. 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  18. ↑ Arango, Tim (2009-12-03). "G.E. Makes It Official: It Will Sell NBC to Comcast - The New York Times". archive.md. Archived from the original on 2020-08-27.
  19. ↑ Conrad, Roger (2018-09-25). "Comcast Wins Sky Bid: Step In And Buy". Forbes.
  20. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2018-04-25). "Comcast CEO Brian Roberts: Sky Is a Great Opportunity but Not a 'Necessity'". Variety.
  21. ↑ Comcast Corporation Website: "Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation", comcast.com; retrieved February 12, 2014
  22. ↑ "Equilar 100: CEO Pay at the Largest Companies by Revenue". Equilar. 2024-06-07. Archived from the original on 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Cable Industry Launches 'Take Control. It's Easy' Campaign to Help Parents Manage Their Family's TV Viewing" Archived 2015-06-20 at the Wayback Machine April 26, 2005
  24. 1 2 3 "Brian Roberts". The White House.
  25. ↑ "Brian Roberts". The White House.
  26. ↑ "HAIL TO THE CHIEFS". Institutional Investor. 2003-01-01.
  27. ↑ "All-America Executive Team". Institutional Investor.
  28. ↑ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  29. 1 2 "Brian L. Roberts" (Press release). Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  30. ↑ Michael Elkin Jewish Exponent: "Shoah Salute: Personal Meaning for Comcast CEO", jewishexponent.com, May 4, 2011; accessed June 20, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Brian L. Roberts | The Philadelphia Award". The Philadelphia Award.
  32. ↑ Mulligan, Ryan (2022-12-19). "Comcast's Brian Roberts receives 2022 William Penn Award". Philadelphia Business Journal.
  33. ↑ "Roberts Family Gives $15 Million for Proton Therapy Center". The Pennsylvania Gazette. 2007-01-01.
  34. ↑ McCullough, Marie (2016-09-23). "CHOP, Comcast founders announce $50 million genetics initiative". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  35. ↑ "Comcast CEO, Family Donate $5 Million to Buy Laptops for Philly Students". NBC10 Philadelphia. 2020-03-27.
  36. ↑ "University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine Establishes Roberts Family Professorship and Fellowship for Vaccine Research and Development - Penn Medicine". Penn Medicine News. 2021-07-29.
  37. ↑ Michael Elkin "Shoah Salute: Personal Meaning for Comcast CEO" Archived 2016-04-19 at the Wayback Machine , jewishexponent.com, May 4, 2011; accessed June 20, 2015.
  38. ↑ Maccabi USA: "2012 Legends of Maccabiah" Archived 2014-12-21 at the Wayback Machine ; retrieved December 20, 2014.
  39. ↑ "The PA Report 'Power 75' List" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. January 31, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-20.
  40. ↑ "Power 50". PoliticsPA . The Publius Group. 2003. Archived from the original on 2004-04-17.
  41. ↑ "Roberts endorses PPACA". Politico . 2009. Archived from the original on 2015-07-02.
  42. ↑ "ROBERTS, BRIAN L". OpenSecrets . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  43. ↑ Aileen Kennedy Roberts profile, businessweek.com; retrieved July 8, 2012.
  44. ↑ "Philadelphia Award 2012 - Joseph Neubauer and Aileen Roberts were honored for their work on the new Barnes", phillymag,com, May 31, 2012
  45. ↑ "Brian, Doug & Ralph Roberts Presenting Suzanne Roberts Lifetime Achievement Honor". YouTube.com. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2017.[ dead YouTube link ]
  46. ↑ Rifkin, Glenn (19 June 2015). "Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95". The New York Times, USA. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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