Pearlena Igbokwe, a Nigerian-born media personality, has been appointed chairman of United States Universal Studio Group.
Universal Studio Group is an arm of NBCUniversal, one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the production, development and marketing of entertainment, news and information for global audience.
It comprises Universal Television, UCP and NBCUniversal International Studios.
Igbokwe has achieved a lot of feats as the first woman of African origin to head a major American television studio.
According to Universal Studio Group’s statement, she will head the company’s increasing global television studio businesses and report to Jeff Shell, the CEO of NBCUniversal.
Most recently, she was the President of Universal Television. As the President, she oversaw every aspect of the studio business and achieved unprecedented volume for the legacy studio.
Some of the programmes under her watch include comedies like “Russian Doll”, “The Good Place”, “Superstore”, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, “Little America” and popular dramas like “Good Girls” and “New Amsterdam.”
Also, she served as NBC Entertainment’s Executive Vice President, Drama Programming where she developed top-rated broadcast dramas.
Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Igbokwe worked with Showtime for 2 decades and was involved in establishing a variety of hit series that include “Dexter” and “Nurse Jackie.”
She also played a major role in the five-season run of the hit Showtime series “Soul Food,” a two-time NAACP Image Award winner for Best Drama Series.
Currently, she serves as the Vice President of the Hollywood Radio and TV Society (HRTS) board and she is a member of the Television Academy Executive Committee.
Igbokwe moved to New Jersey with her family at the age of 6 in 1971 and she is married with two kids.
