NBCU SVP Content & Consumer Insights Sumithra Barry Departs Amid Division Layoffs

NBCUniversal veteran Sumithra Barry is leaving the company after almost two decades. For the past three years, she served as SVP, Content and Consumer Insights, Entertainment Networks at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

Barry’s departure is part of a round of layoffs within the NBCUniversal Research and Decision Sciences operations, which we hear impacted less under 20 people. The cuts are part of a restructuring that follows NBCU’s January decision to Integrate research and decision sciences (data) teams across television and streaming under Will Gonzalez who was promoted to EVP & Chief Data Officer.

The restructuring kicked off in August with the appointment of Zoë Friend as EVP of Consumer Insights. More new hires are expected.

In much the same way that NBCUniversal no longer has a content team specifically focused on NBC, Peacock or its cable networks — it works across platforms — the Research and Decision Sciences division also will now operate across areas, but its scope is even broader as it also covers Telemundo and NBC Sports.

The integrated operation handles ratings and research as well as tracking consumer insights. It is tasked with helping the content teams figure out if a show is working, who’s watching it and run focus groups prior to launch to gauge who might be interested in watching it.

Barry joined NBCUniversal in May 2004. Before she was promoted to her most recent role, Barry served as SVP, Consumer & Market Intelligence. Earlier in her career, she was a Research Analyst at Disney Channel.