NBCUniversal has appointed Christopher Halpin as chief financial officer ahead of its planned separation from Comcast. The move is part of preparations to establish NBCUniversal as an independent public company, with Mike Cavanagh due to become its chief executive after the split.

Halpin, currently chief operating and financial officer of People Inc., will begin on 8 September and report to Cavanagh. Comcast expects the separation to be completed by next summer; current NBCUniversal CFO Randy Culbertson will remain with the company in a new role to be announced, supporting the transition alongside businesses including Sky, Peacock and Telemundo.