NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker promoted longtime PR confidant Allison Gollust to executive vice president of corporate communications today, effective July 13th. She joined NBC in 1998 as a senior publicist at the Today Show while Zucker was EP. For the past seven years, she was head of communications for the NBC News division.

Gollust replaces Cory Shields who moves over to the newly created EVP of global policy strategies and alliances, addressing piracy.

Zucker’s memo highlights her work on the switch from Katie Couric to Meredith Vieira, from Tom Brokaw to Brian Williams, and the appointment of David Gregory following Tim Russert’s death.

Gollust will serve as chief spokesperson for NBCU, oversee worldwide media strategy, executive communications, internal communications, as well as philanthropy and community relations.