Comcast Corporation Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA. Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Philadelphia, PA, USA - April 14, 2011

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communications companies, today announced it has named Maria G. Arias as Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion.

Comcast Corporation Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA. Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

In this newly created role, Ms. Arias will direct, manage, and organize Comcast’s diversity program strategy with a focus on recruitment and career development, suppliers, programming, and community investment.

Comcast Corporation Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA. Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Additionally, she will work closely with the Comcast Internal Diversity Council and the newly created Comcast/NBCUniversal Joint External Diversity Advisory Council to coordinate the execution of diversity and inclusion initiatives across the entire company.

Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Comcast Corporation. Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corporation, one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communication companies, with the purchase of a 1,200-subscriber cable television system in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1963. Today, he is Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Company’s Board of Directors, and his son Brian serves as Chairman and CEO. Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

She will report to Karen Dougherty Buchholz, Vice President of Administration at Comcast.

Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Corporation. Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

“Maria’s unique personal experience and professional expertise make her the perfect fit for this new role,” said Ms. Buchholz.
“She has built a phenomenal career in the cable industry, is a strong leader, and I’m looking forward to working with her as we further build on our diversity and inclusion initiatives.”

Maria G. Arias Photo: LinkedIn

Ms. Arias previously served as Vice President of Operations for Comcast Cable’s Southern Colorado systems where she led technical operations and alternative sales channels.

Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Prior to that, she was the Interim Vice President of Technical Operations for Comcast Cable’s West Division.

She also served as the Interim General Manager for Comcast’s Colorado Mountain Area and the Tucson cable systems.

Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Before joining Comcast in 2007, Ms. Arias spent time with both Adelphia Communications and AT&T Broadband in various government affairs roles.

Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

She also worked at AT&T Corporation where she held the position of Chief Regulatory Counsel for AT&T’s Western Region and Senior Counsel for AT&T’s Central Region, as well as a government affairs role.

Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Prior to joining AT&T Corporation, she was an income partner with the national law firm McDermott, Will & Emery, in Chicago, IL, specializing in commercial litigation.

XFINITY TV Online - Video Player Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Ms. Arias currently serves on the Board of Directors for Solera National Bank and the Junior Achievement Board of Southern Colorado.

XFINITY TV Online - TV Listings Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

She is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT), and has served on various non-profit boards in Denver, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Multicultural Ethnicities in Communications (NAMIC), and the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation.

XFINITY TV Online - Home Page Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Ms. Arias was named as one of the “100 Most Influential Minorities in Cable” in 2010 by CableFAX magazine.

XFINITY TV App - TV Listing Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

She was selected as a fellow for WICT’s Betsy Magness Executive Leadership Institute Class XI and is the recipient of the 2005 Rocky Mountain WICT Chapter “Woman to Watch” award.

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She holds a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law and will be relocating to Comcast’s corporate headquarters in Philadelphia with her husband and five children.


About Comcast Corporation


Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) ( www.comcast.com ) is one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communications companies.

Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal.

Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers.

Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.


Source: Comcast Corporation

http://www.comcast.com/About/PressRelease/PressRoom.cspx  


Comcast Cable Products and Services


• XFINITY® TV: Comcast is the nation’s largest video provider and its Xfinity TV service offers the best new content and tens of thousands of entertainment options On Demand and online, along with new apps that enable customers to watch, search, discover and share top TV shows and movies whenever and wherever they want.

• XFINITY® Internet: Comcast is the nation’s largest Internet service provider that offers some of the fastest speeds of up to 105 Mbps, as well as a reliable and safe online experience.

• XFINITY® Voice: Comcast delivers innovative and reliable IP-enabled home phone service that includes all of the functions of traditional phone service, plus enhanced features that are integrated with other Comcast services.

• XFINITY® Internet 2go: Xfinity Internet 2go is Comcast’s mobile Internet solution that provides super-fast (3G/4G) wireless Internet service.

• Comcast Business Class: Backed by industry-leading, 24/7 business-class support, Comcast provides advanced communication solutions to small and mid-sized organizations to help them meet their business objectives.

• Comcast Interactive Media: Comcast Interactive Media (CIM), a business unit of Comcast Cable, focuses on creating and operating online and mobile properties, such as xfinityTV.com and comcast.net, that make the world more entertaining for Comcast customers and makes it easier for them to find, manage and consume video content.

• Comcast Spotlight: The advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps put the power of cable to use for local, regional and national advertisers through advanced technologies and innovative products that reach audiences in the most effective and efficient ways.


NBCUniversal


NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.

Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.


Other


Comcast-Spectacor: which owns two professional sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, and a large, multipurpose arena in Philadelphia, the Wells Fargo Center, and, through Global Spectrum, manages other facilities for sporting events, concerts and other events.

Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA

Website: www.comcast.com  

Blog: http://blog.comcast.com  



Ralph J. Roberts

Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Comcast Corporation

Ralph J. Roberts Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Ralph J. Roberts founded Comcast Corporation, one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communication companies, with the purchase of a 1,200-subscriber cable television system in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1963.

From Comcast’s humble roots, Mr. Roberts went on to create a company that today is the nation’s largest video provider, largest Internet services provider, and the fourth largest phone company.

The Company is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

Additionally, Comcast has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and a large multipurpose arena in Philadelphia.

Today, he is Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Company’s Board of Directors, and his son Brian serves as Chairman and CEO.

Prior to starting Comcast, Mr. Roberts was President and CEO of Pioneer Industries, a leading men’s clothing accessories company, Vice President of Muzak Corporation, and an account executive with Aitken Kynett Advertising Agency.

Mr. Roberts graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and served a four-year tour of duty in the U.S. Navy.

He also participated in continuing education programs at Harvard Business School.

Mr. Roberts, 91, is involved in numerous community and civic activities.

He currently serves on the boards of the Council of Emeritus Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Brandywine Museum and Conservancy, as well as the Advisory Board of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, and the Penn Medicine Board of Trustees, University of Pennsylvania Health System.

He has served on the national and regional boards of the National Conference for Community and Justice (formerly National Conference of Christians and Jews).

He is also a Charter Member of the World Business Council.

His business, entrepreneurial and humanitarian endeavors have brought him many awards including the Distinguished Vanguard Award for Leadership from the National Cable and Telecommunications Association; induction in the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame; the Cable Television Hall of Fame Award; and the Walter Kaitz Foundation Award for contributing to the cable industry’s diversity efforts.

He received the University of Pennsylvania’s Joseph P. Wharton Award, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania, an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Holy Family College, and an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Arcadia University.

He was honored by the Anti-Defamation League of B’Nai B’Rith with its Americanism Award and by the National Conference of Christians and Jews with its Brotherhood Award.

He has also received Philadelphia’s Edward Powell Award given to the individual whose efforts most benefit the prosperity of the city of Philadelphia; the Police Athletic League Award; the Urban League of Philadelphia’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Award for Leadership, Diversity and Excellence; the William Penn Award given by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; the Trustees Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; and (jointly with his son Brian) the Steven J. Ross Humanitarian Award given by the UJA Federation.



Brian L. Roberts

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Corporation

Brian L. Roberts Courtesy of Comcast Corporation

Brian L. Roberts is Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation, one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communication companies, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NBCUniversal.

Under his leadership, Comcast has grown into a Fortune 100 company and is the nation’s largest video provider, largest Internet services provider, and the fourth largest phone company.

The Company is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

Additionally, Comcast has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and a large multipurpose arena in Philadelphia.

Mr. Roberts is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) where he served as Chairman for two consecutive terms from 2005 to 2007.

He also served as NCTA’s Chairman from 1995 to 1996 when the landmark deregulatory 1996 Telecommunications Act became law.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of CableLabs, the research and development consortium for the cable industry where he served three terms as Chairman.

Mr. Roberts is a member of the Business Roundtable, a CEO only organization based in Washington, D.C., and also serves on the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

Mr. Roberts has won numerous business and industry honors for his leadership.

In 2009, Institutional Investor magazine named him as one of America’s top CEOs for the sixth year in a row, and named Comcast one of America's most shareholder-friendly companies for the fourth year in a row.

In 2008, he was recognized by Big Brothers Big Sisters for his outstanding leadership in the community and for serving as a role model to youth.

In May 2007, he was presented with the cable industry's highest honor, the National Cable and Telecommunications’ Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership.

In October of 2006, he was inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame.

In 2005, he was honored by the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) for his commitment to diversity in the cable industry, and by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) for Comcast’s unprecedented commitment of resources to champion the PDFA’s drug-free message.

He also was the recipient of the 2004 Humanitarian Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

In 2003, Mr. Roberts was awarded the Steven J. Ross Humanitarian Award by the UJA Federation of New York.

In 2002, he was honored by The Police Athletic League of Philadelphia for his commitment to youth programs and community partnerships.

Mr. Roberts co-chaired the 2003 Resource Development Campaign for the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and was a founding co-chair of Philadelphia 2000, the nonpartisan host committee for the 2000 Republican National Convention.

An All-American in squash, he earned a gold medal with the U.S. squash team in 2005 and silver medals at the 1981, 1985, 1997 and 2009 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Mr. Roberts, 51, received his BS from the Wharton School of Finance of the University of Pennsylvania.

He and his wife, Aileen, live in Philadelphia with their three children.


Source: Comcast Corporation

http://www.comcast.com/About/PressRelease/PressRoom.cspx  



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