Kevin Obi is to leave his London-based role as SVP of digital assets at NBC Universal International, 18 months after joining from Synergy Inc,  C21 reports. No word on where he’s headed yet but, as well as overseeing NBCU’s digital expansion, Obi was involved in looking into foreign expansion for US-only VOD site Hulu, a NBCU/News Corp (NYSE: NWS) JV.

Ashley Highfield moved from the BBC to BBCWW/ITV/Channel 4 video JV Kangaroo, so could Obi make a similar move and join Hulu full time? In any case, NBCU president and CEO Jeff Zucker has told staff the company must make $500 million in savings and Obi’s departure comes weeks after US digital chief George Kliakoff left the company, so perhaps this move should be seen in a wider context. At NBCU, Obi was also responsible for funding start-ups through the company’s own Peacock PE fund and after setting up Synergy in 2005 he advised Virgin Media (NSDQ: VMED) on its mobile business in India and Channel 4’s now ill-fated 4 Digital Group radio project.