gala 2003

Jeffrey Zucker
President, NBC Entertainment

Jeff Zucker was named President, NBC Entertainment, in December 2000, responsible for overseeing the network's entire entertainment schedule. In May 2002, Zucker's role was expanded to include both NBC Studios and NBC Enterprises. He reports to Andy Lack, President and Chief Operating Officer, NBC.

This year, Zucker led the network to one of its most successful and dominant seasons in the history of television. His leadership contributed to an unprecedented victory in primetime, late night and daytime.

In his first 18 months, he reinvigorated NBC's entertainment programming slate with such new hits as "Scrubs" and "Crossing Jordan" as well as the popular "Fear Factor" reality series. He also originated the idea of "supersizing" Must See comedies such as "Friends."

Prior to his current position, Zucker served as Executive Producer of NBC News' "Today" since September 1994 and from 1992 to 1993. Under his leadership, "Today" was the nation's most-watched morning news program for more than six years, with viewership during the 2000-01 season reaching the highest point in the show's history. Zucker and his team were widely credited for giving "Today" a harder news edge and a new format that appealed to the constantly changing morning news audience.

Zucker, a five-time Emmy Award winner, graduated from Harvard College in 1986 with a degree in American history. He served as president of "The Harvard Crimson" from 1985 to 1986. He and his wife, Caryn, have three children, Andrew, Elizabeth and Peter.

Jeff Zucker has been actively involved in the following good works:

• Since its founding in 1946, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has been singularly focused on identifying and encouraging extraordinary young scientists to commit themselves to arresting cancer's devastating legacy. The Foundation is dedicated to identifying generations of truly innovative investigators in cancer research: scientists that approach questions from totally new directions, challenge existing dogma, and think "outside the box." To date, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has invested over $145 million in cancer research, supporting approximately 3,000 of the most gifted scientists in the nation.
  
• National Children's Alliance (formerly the National Network of Children's Advocacy Centers) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide training, technical assistance and networking opportunities to communities seeking to plan, establish and improve Children's Advocacy Centers.
  
• Since 1975, The Help Group has been dedicated to serving young people with special needs related to autism, Asperger's Disorder, learning disabilities, emotional development, mental retardation, and abuse and neglect. The Help Group's wide range of innovative special education and clinical programs are inspired by its belief that dignity, hope, opportunity, and love are the birthrights of all children.
  
• One of the largest and most comprehensive non-profit organizations of its kind, The Help Group is highly regarded for its high standards of excellence, unique scope and breadth of services, professional training and research programs.

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