New Leadership Team for Univision

Pierluigi Gazzolo and Luis Silberwasser are to assume newly created roles at Univision, which has unveiled several new appointments as part of the company’s efforts to drive its next era of growth.

In the newly created role of president of Univision Communications and chief transformation officer, Gazzolo will lead Univision’s transformation and growth efforts. Gazzolo will be responsible for overseeing the future streaming business and cross-functional collaboration among different business units at Univision and setting the culture to achieve this next era of growth for the company. Gazzolo will lead the immediate shift toward a more “innovative, entrepreneurial and collaborative Univision business,” the company says, supporting its strategic long-term objectives.

Supporting Gazzolo in these efforts will be Sameer Deen, chief digital officer; Margaret Lazo, chief human resources officer; Rosemary Mercedes, chief communications officer; and Adam Shippee, in a newly created role of executive VP of corporate development, strategy and transformation, each of whom will report directly to him.

In his most recent role as president of streaming and studios for ViacomCBS Networks International, Gazzolo played an integral role in building and executing a transformation that competitively positioned ViacomCBS in today’s digital media content and delivery ecosystem.

In the newly created position as president of the Univision Television Networks Group, Silberwasser will be responsible for continuing to accelerate Univision’s lead in U.S. Hispanic media across the full portfolio of Univision’s national television networks.

Daniel Coronell, president of news; David Rabinowitz, executive VP of broadcast operation and technology; Jessica Rodriguez, president of entertainment and CMO; and Juan Carlos Rodriguez, president of sports, will report directly to him.

Most recently, Silberwasser served as president at Telemundo Networks, during which he was credited with leading the transformation of the network’s entertainment content strategy to modernize the brand and better reach Hispanic consumers.

Donna Speciale has been named president of advertising sales and marketing, to drive the innovative expansion of Univision’s offering for advertisers.

Friday Abernethy has been elevated to executive VP of content distribution and partnerships. Adam Shippee takes on the newly created role of executive VP of corporate development, strategy and transformation. Amy Tenbrink has been promoted to executive VP and associate general counsel, revenue/business development, with expanded responsibilities across the digital business.

Wade Davis, CEO of Univision, commented: “Today begins a transformation for Univision. One that will see us accelerate our position as the leading U.S. Hispanic media company as we launch new products and services that will drive value for our U.S. Hispanic audience and for our advertising and distribution partners, who want to reach and engage with this critical audience.

“Achieving our objectives will require new ways of working together, diversity of perspectives and in some cases new talent and skillsets. We began the evolution of our team with the appointment of world-class leaders to our board of directors to bring together skillsets and diversity that Univision has never had at the board level. Today we are announcing a new, industry-leading executive leadership team that exemplifies the traits of innovation, collaboration, inclusivity and accountability that will be central to our transformation. Each of these leaders understands the need to optimize Univision’s core businesses to meet its audience where they are and evolve its content, platforms and products to reach the market in new ways.”