Wonya Y. Lucas
COMCASTAbout Wonya Y. Lucas
Independent director at Comcast since April 2024 (age 64) with three decades of operating leadership across television networks and consumer brands. Former President & CEO of Hallmark Media Networks (2020–2023) and Public Broadcasting Atlanta (2015–2020); recognized by Broadcasting & Cable and the Cable Hall of Fame (2023). Core credentials: executive leadership, media/entertainment domain expertise, consumer marketing and brand development, and risk oversight; currently serves on Comcast’s Audit Committee.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallmark Media Networks | President & Chief Executive Officer | 2020 – 2023 | Led a major U.S. media brand portfolio; recognized industry leader (B&C and Cable Hall of Fame, 2023) |
| Public Broadcasting Atlanta | President & Chief Executive Officer | 2015 – 2020 | Oversaw operations and strategy for a leading public media organization |
| Lucas Strategic Consultants LLC | President | 2013 – 2015 | Brand/marketing advisory; leveraged deep CPG/media background |
| TV One | President & Chief Executive Officer | 2011 – 2013 | Ran national cable network operations and programming strategy |
| Prior executive roles: Westinghouse Electric; The Clorox Company; The Coca‑Cola Company; Turner Broadcasting; Discovery Communications (Chief Global Marketing Officer) | Senior executive/marketing leadership | Various | Built deep expertise in consumer marketing and brand development |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status/Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. | Director (public company) | Current | Only current public board disclosed |
| E.W. Scripps Company | Director (public company) | Former | Media industry experience |
| J.C. Penney Company, Inc. | Director (public company) | Former | Retail/consumer exposure |
| Peabody Awards | Chair, Board of Jurors | Current | Industry leadership role |
| Sundance Institute | Board of Trustees | Current | Content/creative ecosystem governance |
| Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; Georgia Tech Foundation | Trustee/Director | Current | Non‑profit/educational governance |
| National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) | Former Board Member | Former | Sector trade association |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined all nonemployee directors, including Ms. Lucas, are independent under Nasdaq and Comcast’s guidelines; any commercial/charitable relationships with director‑affiliated organizations were below 1% of recipient revenues (well under Nasdaq’s 5% threshold).
- Committees: Audit Committee member; committee fully independent. Audit met 8 times in 2024. Members: Jeffrey A. Honickman (Chair), Louise F. Brady, Wonya Y. Lucas, Asuka Nakahara. Committee financial experts: Honickman and Nakahara.
- Attendance: In 2024, the Board held 6 meetings and committees held 19 meetings; each director attended >75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings. Ms. Lucas did not attend the 2024 annual shareholder meeting due to a pre‑existing commitment soon after joining the Board.
- Executive sessions: Independent directors met in executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting and most committee meetings; at least two executive sessions per year required.
- Committee chairs (context): Audit—Honickman; Compensation and Human Capital—Breen; Governance and Corporate Responsibility—Bacon; all committees entirely independent.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy Detail (2024 program) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $120,000 | |
| Equity grant (annual) | $225,000 FMV of Class A shares; fully vested upon grant; receipt may be deferred | |
| Committee fees | Chair: $40,000; Member: $15,000 per committee | |
| Delivery/deferral features | Cash retainer can be taken in shares; cash and equity may be deferred (into third‑party funds or Comcast stock fund); dividends reinvested in Comcast stock for deferred stock fund | |
| Perquisites | Courtesy services (internet/video/voice/home security) and guest travel to business events; reported at incremental cost |
| 2024 Actual Compensation – Wonya Y. Lucas | Amount (USD) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fees earned/paid in cash | $101,250 | |
| Stock awards (grant‑date fair value) | $393,770 | |
| All other compensation (perqs/guest travel) | $3,262 | |
| Total | $498,282 |
Notes:
- Equity is granted as fully vested common shares (not performance‑based). Directors may elect to receive cash fees in shares and to defer fees/grants.
Performance Compensation
- Structure: Nonemployee director equity is not performance‑based; annual grant is fully vested upon grant (no performance metrics/targets apply).
- Deferral: Directors may defer grants/fees; deferred fees invest notionally in funds or a Comcast stock fund.
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Performance metrics used | None for nonemployee directors’ equity grants | |
| Vesting | Fully vested upon grant | |
| 2024 equity value (Lucas) | $393,770 (grant‑date fair value) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public boards | Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. |
| Former public boards | E.W. Scripps Company; J.C. Penney Company, Inc. |
| Interlocks/conflicts | Board considered director‑affiliated transactions; amounts were below 1% of counterparty revenues; independence maintained under Nasdaq rules. No specific related‑party transaction involving Ms. Lucas disclosed. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board‑valued skills reflected in her biography: Executive Leadership; Relevant Industry Experience; Consumer Products/Customer‑Oriented; Risk Management Oversight.
- Deep consumer marketing/brand background from Coca‑Cola, Clorox, Turner, Discovery (CMO), with extensive media operating leadership.
Equity Ownership
| Ownership Element | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Class A shares beneficially owned | 12,102 | |
| Deferred stock units/shares payable in future | 7,888 | |
| Percent of class | <1% | |
| Hedging/pledging | None of the directors’/officers’ shares are hedged or pledged | |
| Director ownership guideline | 5x annual cash retainer; 5 years to comply; “ownership” counts 60% of deferred shares | |
| Compliance status (2024) | All nonemployee directors satisfied the policy in 2024 |
Insider filings
- Section 16(a) compliance: All required 2024 filings were timely; no delinquencies reported.
Governance Assessment
Strengths (investor confidence signals)
- Independent Audit Committee member; committee met 8x in 2024 and oversees financial reporting, internal controls, ERM, cybersecurity—enhances board risk oversight.
- Media and consumer brand operating depth (Hallmark, TV One, Discovery CMO) aligns with Comcast’s content and customer‑centric strategy; recognized industry leader (2023 halls of fame).
- Equity‑heavy director pay mix and stock ownership guidelines (5x cash retainer) support alignment; all directors compliant; no pledging/hedging.
- Board practices: robust independence, executive sessions every regular meeting, annual self‑assessments, independent committee leadership.
Watch items / potential red flags
- New tenure (joined April 2024), so limited long‑term board performance track record at Comcast thus far.
- Not designated as an “audit committee financial expert” (two other members are); relevant for audit committee depth mix.
- Missed 2024 annual shareholder meeting due to pre‑existing commitment—management notes this exception; Board/committee attendance otherwise >75% threshold.
Overall view
- Ms. Lucas brings domain‑relevant operating expertise and marketing acumen to Comcast’s Board with standard‑setting independence and alignment features in place. Early tenure suggests monitoring her ongoing Audit Committee contributions and shareholder engagement participation over the next cycle.