TelevisaUnivision confirmed that Head of Univision News Leopoldo Gómez will depart from the company following two years in his current position, and 23 years as Vice President of News at Televisa. “Leopoldo has had an immense impact on our News division in the last two years," Wade Davis, CEO of TelevisaUnivision said. "We have benefited from his expertise and in-depth knowledge of the news making process. We are saddened to see him go but understand his decision.”
Gómez will exit on the 14th July. His interim replacement will be Executive Vice President of News, Maria Martinez-Guzman, who previously worked as Senior Vice President of News at Univision and has held key roles in local and national news operations since 1998. The news was confirmed to the company’s senior leadership team a couple of months ago.
During his tenure at Univision, Gómez was part of the leadership team that spearheaded the efforts to launch TelevisaUnivision, the binational company that is transforming news, sports, and entertainment in the Spanish-speaking world. Leopoldo´s achievements in the last two years at Univision News include the launch of "Noticias Univision 24/7," the first Spanish-language streaming news channel in the US and one of the most successful channels in the news ecosystem in the country, attracting younger audiences.
The executive has contributed to numerous and highly viewed news specials covering relevant topics, such as the legal framework of the US and how it affects the status of immigrants, an in-depth investigation on the drug lord Caro Quintero, and assassinations carried out by the Mexican military, among others. "Setting the foundations for the 2024 political cycle in the US, in our quest to become the go-to election broadcaster for the Hispanic audience and politicians who want to win the Latino vote," the company states.
He was also involved in the production of the most watched programs by Hispanics, regardless of language, especially in the coveted 18-49 demographic, such as “Despierta America” or “Noticiero Univision.” During this time, Univision News also launched its fact-checking platform, “elDetector,” on WhatsApp to help connect users with verified and trustworthy information. “With Leopoldo we expanded our reach to other platforms, and to other audiences," Jorge Ramos, Univision´s award winning journalist, said. "What I cherish the most is his unwavering dedication to news making of the highest standards and to editorial independence. I will miss our daily editorial meetings.”
Under Gómez's leadership, Univision News received “Edward R. Murrow awards” and three “News and Documentary Emmy Awards” by the National Academy of Television Arts and Science. “I have worked alongside Leopoldo for almost 25 years. It is impossible to briefly sum up a quarter of a century of professional and personal adventures with him," Bernardo Gómez, member of TelevisaUnivision Board and Co-CEO of Grupo Televisa, said. "Therefore, I will just say it has been a great journey. His professionalism and devotion to work, as well as his high journalistic standards have allowed him to make our company a very successful one in the contested news and documentary programs. He has always done and encouraged a very profound and trusted journalism. He will be missed as a key team player, but we are all looking forward to doing something exciting in the future.”
Leopoldo has had an immense impact on our News division in the last two years. We have benefited from his expertise and in-depth knowledge of the news making process. We are saddened to see him go but understand his decision.” Wade Davis CEO of TelevisaUnivision