Spaniard Luis Fernandez, the former executive director of Radio Television Española who has also held assorted top management posts at Univision, Telecinco, Cadena Ser and Canal +, on Monday was named executive vice president for Network News, the informative arm of Telemundo.
"News plays a central role in terms of how we inform and empower our community," said Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and NBCUniversal International Group ina statement. "Luis Fernandez will play a strategic role in leading our Network News division at a time when the U.S. Hispanic community is playing an increasingly important role in the transformation of our country."
Telemundo president Luis Silberwasser said he was sure that Fernandez will raise the network's news division to "new heights."
Meanwhile, Fernandez said that "I join an excellent team of journalists and producers with three priorities: to compete and win, to investigate and to win the digital battle. To be in news again is a dream come true. Above all, I am a journalist and news is my passion."
According to the communique released by the network, Fernandez will supervise the operations of the news organization and will be in charge of production, programming and editorial direction in all Telemundo's news areas.
He will also work closely with Mario Kreutzberger - better known as "Don Francisco," the longtime host of the "Sabado Gigante" variety show - in producing and coordinating high profile interviews and will aim to strengthen cooperation with NBC News and Telemundo's assorted stations.
Colombia's Luis Carlos Velez, who to date was Network News executive vice president, will join the team of professionals in that division.