NBC loses third top executive in 30 days

NBC Universal’s sales and marketing president is leaving the company, marking the third high-level defection in a month.

Keith Turner, chief of NBC’s sales unit for eight years, is leaving “to pursue career opportunities outside the company,” NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright said in a memo to staff.

NBC is expected to announce Turner’s replacement next week. Last month, Television Group President Randy Falco was tapped to be head of AOL, and David Zaslav, head of NBC’s cable unit, left to take the top job at Discovery Communications Inc.