Thomas M Byrne has been hired as managing director to lead GE Commercial Finance - Media, Communications & Entertainment business and NBC Universal's $250m joint venture Peacock Equity Fund.

Megumi Ikeda has also been named executive director, will be based in London and reports to Byrne.

Byrne will lead an international team investing equity capital in media companies that have a strong strategic fit with NBC Universal.

Byrne's has previously held senior executive roles at GE, ABN AMRO, and Royal Bank Of Canada.

Ikeda was formerly vice president of strategic initiatives and new media for NBC Universal in New York, where she was responsible for developing strategy, negotiating and launching new media channels and products.

Before that she worked in a number of roles at Time Warner, Conde Naste Publications and Dow Jones.

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