With his numerous high-ranking positions with the NBC over the years, Jeff Zucker enjoyed a high television profile for decades; his notoriety beginning when he was the youngest executive producer in the history of the “Today” show, at the age of 26. Zucker would go on to pay his dues and find himself rewarded for years of hard work when he was named chief executive officer of the entire peacock network in 2005.

Born April 9, 1965 in Miami, FL, Zucker grew up an overachiever in high school, where he not only qualified for Northwestern University’s National High School Institute for Journalism, he also was a stringer – or part-time freelance journalist – for the Miami Herald. While attending Harvard University, Zucker was named president of the school’s newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, where he good-naturedly stoked the ongoing rivalry with the other campus publication, The Harvard Lampoon, edited at the time by future NBC player, Conan O’Brien. He graduated with a degree in American history in 1986. After being denied admission into the Harvard School of Law, he took a job at fresh out of college researching material for NBC’s coverage of the 1988 Olympics held in South Korea. His two-year job took him around the globe, as he assembled background information and stories for use during the broadcast of the games themselves.

Soon thereafter, in 1989, Zucker was promoted to field producer on the “Today” (1952- ) show. In 1990, he was chosen as Katie Couric’s producer when she became the show’s national correspondent. By 1992, he was named executive producer, and earned special press attention due to his young age. At the same time, he served as executive producer of the “NBC Nightly News” (1970- ) with Tom Brokaw.

Under his watch, “Today,” which had been on the air with a wide array of hosts since 1952, became a ratings bonanza, thanks in part to Couric, and to Zucker’s efforts to increase the hipness of the show. While long-running staples such as cooking segments and informational interviews weren’t completely eliminated, they were joined by rock concerts, featuring musicians formerly the province of late-night programming such as “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 1975- ). The show also moved back to its original address at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and returned to its original tradition of broadcasting in front of large windows facing the New York City street.

In 2000, with “Today” holding strong in the ratings as the number one morning show, Zucker moved up into NBC’s prime-time programming and was named president of NBC Entertainment. He had some big successes with reality shows such as “The Apprentice” (2004- ) and “Fear Factor” (2001- ) but Zucker unfortunately inherited a programming schedule whose front-runners, “Friends” (1994-2004), “Frasier” (1993-2004) and even “Will & Grace” (1998-2006) were already showing signs of slowing down. Despite ratings success with dramas such as “The West Wing” (1999-2006) and multiple formats for the “Law & Order” (1990- ) franchise, the dearth of new comedies falling short was a blemish on Zucker’s record for awhile. With these comedy slumps in mind, Zucker’s NBC began to turn itself around with hits such as “Scrubs” (2001- ), “Las Vegas” (2003-), “My Name is Earl” (2005- ) and the U.S. version of “The Office” (2005- ).

In 2005, Zucker was named CEO of NBC Universal Television Group, reporting directly to Robert Wright, vice chairman of corporate owner General Electric. With many eyes on the 2006 fall line-up, in light of NBC’s third place status, Zucker pinned his hopes on such offerings as the Aaron Sorkin produced drama, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (2006- ).