What to know about TelevisaUnivision layoffs and changes in ad sales

TelevisionUnivision do structural changesannounced CEO Daniel Alegre.

During an earnings conference call in October, Alegre, who joined the company as CEO in Septembernoted that TelevisaUnivision was at a “crucial point” in its evolution and was seeking better integration and operational optimization in the future.

In a memo to employees Monday, the CEO made those plans clearer, saying the company was “implementing important and necessary changes this week” aimed at “strengthening our position for 2025 and beyond.”

According to Alegre, the changes aim to strengthen the company’s four key priorities: integration and collaboration, content first, solutions selling and culture. To achieve this, the company is implementing layoffs, management adjustments and reorganization of functions.

ADWEEK has learned that the restructuring is impacting a “mid-high single-digit percentage” of the workforce. According to Deadlinethis means hundreds of layoffs.

“I want to acknowledge that workforce changes will also take place across the company this week. Although these decisions are never easy, we are committed to supporting everyone in their transition,” Alegre wrote.

Among the management changes, Alegre announced the departure of Jesús Lara, local manager of the company in the United States. Going forward, TelevisaUnivision will centralize all of its advertising sales in the United States under the responsibility of the head of advertising sales. Donna Specialwhich includes local and national, linear, digital, streaming, audio and multi-platform video.

The structure focuses on a single, solution-oriented entry point for U.S. advertising partners, according to Alegre. Regarding the company’s advertising sales, ADWEEK learned in August that TelevisaUnivision had closed its from the start with single-digit volume growth across its linear, streaming, social and digital properties.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Jesús Lara for his dedication, vision and contributions to TelevisaUnivision over the past eight years,” Alegre wrote. “He will work closely with Donna and Ignacio [Meyer] to ensure a smooth transition for teams joining their organizations.

Among other changes, Ignacio Meyer, president of Univision Television Networks Group, will have an expanded role, overseeing U.S. audio and local programming in addition to his current responsibility managing U.S. linear programming.

Regarding content strategy, José Luis Fabila, Vice President of Networks, Programming and Marketing, TelevisaUnivision Mexico, will lead the efforts and create a new global content organization.

Meyer will lead the core U.S. business, as well as the music and audio content teams, reporting to Fabila. Meanwhile, ViX COO Rafael Urbina will oversee digital and streaming operations, performance marketing and customer relationship management. Additionally, Carlos “Olek” Loewenstein will continue to lead the sports business unit, according to Alegre, collaborating with Fabila’s global content organization.

“I understand this will be a difficult week, but I ask for your focus and resilience as we take these important steps toward a stronger, more connected future,” Alegre wrote. “Together we are building a company positioned for sustained growth, innovation and leadership. »

See the full memo below:

Hello team,

I am writing to let you know that we are implementing important and necessary changes to the business this week, all aimed at strengthening our position for 2025 and beyond. Today I am announcing a new organizational structure, which will have significant implications for many of our colleagues.

These changes aim to strengthen the four key priorities I have outlined for us going forward:

Integration and collaboration: Working as one company in everything we do. Content first: It all starts with quality content, and we must align our teams and strategies to continue to connect, inform and entertain our communities. Selling solutions: The needs of our partners are evolving and we must serve them like no one else in the market can. Culture: We need to rebuild a growth mindset, grounded in innovation, across the entire company.

Changes include leadership adjustments in certain areas and reorganization of functions to help us achieve better alignment, greater focus and impact.

First of all, I want to share this Jesus Laraour local manager in the United States, has decided to leave the company. In response, I decided to reorganize the local American teams. I will centralize advertising sales in the United States under the direction of Donna Specialcovering local and national video, linear, digital, streaming, audio and multi-platform. This structure will ensure a single, solutions-focused entry point for all of our U.S. advertising partners to activate and grow with our audience.

In addition, Ignacio Meyer will now oversee US audio and local programming, in addition to its current role managing US linear programming. Donna and Ignacio will communicate separately with the local US teams to explain how the new structure works.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Jesus Lara for his dedication, vision and contributions to TelevisaUnivision over the past eight years. He will work closely with Donna and Ignacio to ensure a smooth transition for teams joining their organizations.

From a content strategy perspective, I asked Jose Luis Fabila to lead all of our content efforts and build a new team global content organization. José Luis will ensure that our content investments match our company’s reach, engagement and monetization goals, and are distributed effectively across all platforms worldwide with the right windowing strategy. This is an exciting opportunity to improve the way we deliver world-class content to our global audiences.

Our talented business unit leaders will work closely with José Luis:

Ignacio Meyer will lead our core U.S. business, as well as our music and audio content teams, under the leadership of José Luis. Additionally, current programming and marketing teams from the U.S. networks will also be integrated into roles within the global content organization. Jose Luis and Ignacio will provide more details to these teams. Rafael Urbina will oversee digital and streaming operations, performance marketing and CRM, focusing on adoption, increasing consumption and optimizing the global user experience. Jose Luis’ content and brand marketing organization will provide VIX with content acquisition, development and production services, as well as planning and creative services to support VIX’s marketing. Rafa and José Luis will provide more details to their respective teams. Olek Lowenstein will continue to lead the sports business unit, working with José Luis’ global content organization.

These leaders will remain key members of my broader leadership team.

Finally, I want to acknowledge that workforce changes will also take place across the company this week. Although these decisions are never easy, we are committed to supporting everyone in their transition.

I understand this week will be difficult, but I ask for your focus and resilience as we take these important steps toward a stronger, more connected future. Together, we are building a company positioned for sustained growth, innovation and leadership.

Thank you for your trust, your contributions and your commitment to our mission and goals.

Daniel