NBC News chairman Andrew Lack called Matt Lauer’s behavior “appalling” and vowed to undertake a “thorough and timely review of what happened.” Lack’s comments came in a company-wide email Friday morning, two days after the organization terminated Lauer.

NBC News has heard from three women with complaints about Lauer, anchor of “Today.” The first woman who came forward Monday night detailed numerous abuses that began in 2014 at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and continued for months afterward. That complaint led to Lauer’s termination Tuesday night. But since Wednesday, when reports in Variety and the New York Times detailed what appears to be decades of inappropriate and abusive behavior toward young women on “Today,” two more women have filed complaints against Lauer.

Lauer’s downfall has been a shock to many at the news division who are asking why and how NBC News management failed vulnerable young employees.

Lack acknowledged the turmoil in his memo: “Many of you have asked what we are doing to learn as much as we can about the circumstances around Matt Lauer’s appalling behavior, why this was able to happen, and why it wasn’t reported sooner.”

Lack has a long history at NBC News. He was president of the division from 1993 to 2001, when he moved into the COO role at NBC. In 1994, he tapped Lauer, who started on WNBC and then became a newsreader on “Today,” to replace Bryant Gumbel as the co-host of program alongside Katie Couric. It was a highly successful pairing that set the show on a 16-year morning news winning streak. Lack returned to NBC News in early 2015, in the wake of Brian Williams’ ouster from “Nightly News.” He is known for his deft management of talent and has had a close relationship with many top anchors, including Lauer.

In news reports, some accusers have asserted that they took their complaints about Lauer’s behavior — which allegedly included lewd texts and notes pressuring young production assistants and bookers to have sex with him — to “Today” show management, but those complaints fell on deaf ears due to Lauer’s perceived power at the show and the news division overall.

NBC News has strenuously pushed back on the implication that executives knew of Lauer’s apparent predatory behavior.

NBC will be off the hook for the remainder of Lauer’s handsome contract, according to a network source.

Because Lauer was terminated “for cause,” NBC won’t have to pay out the rest of his reportedly US$20 million-per-year deal. Lauer’s contract runs through 2018.

Lauer did not fight the network’s decision to terminate him. His legal team, though, is expected to push for him to be compensated for the remainder of his contract.

(SD-Agencies)