TelevisaUnivision names former Google executive as new CEO

A joyful thing will happen to Wade Daviswho will take on the role of Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and continue as a member of the Executive Committee. Reuters had earlier reported the management change.

“Alegre, originally from Mexico, has strong ties to the Hispanic community and extensive work experience in the United States, Mexico and Latin America,” the firm said. “He is an executive with more than 30 years of global experience in media, entertainment and technology companies,” it added.

The executive was CEO of Yuga Labs, a leading company in the Web 3.0 space. Previously, he served as President and COO of Activision Blizzard, overseeing the marketing of widely popular video game franchises.

Prior to that role, Alegre held several executive positions during his 16-year tenure at Google, where he had a consistent track record of revenue growth and expansion.

TelevisaUnivision is a joint venture between Televisa, Mexico’s largest television network, and Univision, the Spanish-language television network in the United States. However, it is a company with multiple challenges. In 2023, it recorded a 4% drop in its profits, which meant a loss of $1.61 billion. The company’s debt amounts to $9.8 billion, according to its second-quarter report.

The company has seen increases in total revenue and advertising revenue in 2023 and 2024 so far, most of which has been driven by the Mexican market. Company officials had expected higher earnings in the U.S. market, the source said.

“On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to welcome Daniel (Alegre) to TelevisaUnivision. With him we will embark on the next strategic phase focused on integration and optimization,” said Alfonso de Angoitia, executive chairman of the Board of Directors of TelevisaUnivision in a statement.