Univision has reorganized its ad sales organization and hired another former NBCUniversal executive.
Univision has named Steve Mandala executive vice president, advertising sales. Mandala spent five years as executive vice president, cable entertainment ad sales at NBCUniversal after eight years as senior vice president, Telemundo Network sales and marketing and affiliate relations.
The restructuring, announced by Keith Turner, president of sales and marketing, is part of an effort by Univision to maintain and strengthen relationships with its current client base, while also attracting new business and expanding its client roster.
"This new structure places an emphasis on new business development while also adding efficiencies that will serve both new and existing clients," said Turner, the former NBC sales chief who joined Univision from the NFL Network this summer. "The restructuring enables us to take better advantage of the momentum we have."
Turner joined Univision after a second quarter with lower earnings and an upfront that dragged on. Turner had previously worked with Univision CEO Randy Falco at NBC.
Mandala will oversee Univision's client development group, along with sports sales and direct response advertising.
Turner's other direct reports under the new structure are: Laura Molen (executive vice president, network sales), Roberto Ruiz (senior vice president, brand solutions team), Mark Dante (executive vice president, station group sales), Charlie Echeverry (executive vice president, interactive sales) and Lee Davis (executive vice president, radio sales). Ruiz, a veteran with more than 20 years of marketing experience, will assume leadership of Univision's brand solutions team.
Lisa McCarthy, former executive vice president of the client development group, has left to form her own consulting business, while Graciela Eleta, former senior vice president of brand solutions, will provide consulting to Univision.
