Gazzolo, Silberwasser join Univision in rejig

US Hispanic broadcaster Univision has appointed new executive leaders, including former ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) and Telemundo execs Pierluigi Gazzolo and Luis Silberwasser.

Pierluigi Gazzolo

Gazzolo has been appointed to the newly created role of president of Univision Communications and chief transformation officer having left VCNI, where he was president of streaming and studios, late last year.

Industry veteran Silberwasser, meanwhile, has been appointed to the newly created role of president of the Univision Television Networks Group to lead Univision’s national TV properties.

Silberwasser left NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises after four years as president of US Hispanic broadcaster Telemundo Networks in 2018. Since then he has run his own media venture operation.

Luis Silberwasser

Friday Abernethy has been promoted to executive VP of content distribution and partnerships, while Adam Shippee has been promoted to the newly created role of executive VP, corporate development, strategy and transformation.

Abernethy was previously senior VP of content distribution and Shippee was previously head of investor relations and senior VP of corporate business development.

Amy Tenbrink has been upped to executive VP and associate general counsel, revenue/business development with expanded responsibilities across the digital business.

The rejig comes after private equity firm Searchlight Capital Partners and media investment company ForgeLight acquired a majority stake in Univision early last year.

Friday Abernethy

Following the leadership changes and the close of the transaction with ForgeLight and Searchlight, Henry Ahn, president of distribution, and Steve Mandala, president of advertising sales and marketing, will leave Univision.

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