Donna Speciale to Exit TelevisaUnivision, Tim Natividad Named New Ad Sales Chief

by

TelevisaUnivision is undergoing a significant reshuffle in its upper management echelons. Currently, the head of ad sales, Donna Speciale, will be leaving her position. On the other hand, Tim Natividad is set to join the company by the end of this month, assuming the role of President for Ad Sales.

TelevisaUnivision CEO Daniel Alegre announced the news to staff Monday morning.

For several months now, Donna and I have been having thoughtful discussions about our business’s future. We both believe that this is the perfect moment for our ad sales leadership to take its next step in development. Since our digital future is crucial, I am thrilled to announce that we will be bringing Tim on board. Tim has extensive experience in managing large and agile ad sales teams, and I can’t wait for you all to feel his infectious enthusiasm and energy at the company.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share that I recently took on the role of head of U.S. enterprise sales for TikTok, having previously worked at Amazon, Roku, and Google. I step into the shoes once filled by Speciale, a seasoned TV ad expert, who has been with the company for four years. His mission was to amplify our advertising business in the U.S., utilizing the rapidly expanding Hispanic audience as a powerful lever.

Over the past 4 years, my experience here has been nothing less than remarkable, as I expressed in a memo penned by myself. Upon assuming this role, my aim was to maximize the potential of our platform for the marketing professionals we cater to, and to ensure that the U.S. Hispanic audience, often underestimated, is recognized, appreciated, and given priority. Our collective accomplishments have surpassed every hope I harbored when I embarked on this journey.

Alegre’s memo:

Team,

I’d like to pass on some significant news regarding our U.S. Ad Sales team. Donna Speciale has chosen to step down from her position, and Tim Natividad will be taking over as our new President of U.S. Advertising Sales and Marketing starting June 9th, at TelevisaUnivision.

This way, the information is presented in a conversational and easy-to-understand manner.

Over the last few months, Donna and I have had meaningful discussions about our business’s future. We both feel that now is the ideal moment for a significant advance in our ad sales management. Considering the significance of our digital growth, I am thrilled to announce the addition of Tim to our team. Tim boasts an extensive history of successfully leading large and dynamic ad sales teams, and I’m confident his infectious enthusiasm and energy will greatly benefit our company.

Transitions in leadership can be challenging, and I get it. However, we’re lucky to have an extraordinary team working under Donna, who will play a crucial role in making this transition seamless alongside Tim as he takes over, aiming to expand on the strong foundation that Donna has established. Our U.S. team is renowned for its innovative thinking, unwavering dedication to problem-solving for our advertising partners, and influential thought leadership within the industry. I am confident that Tim shares this commitment to nurturing and advancing this outstanding organization.

I am deeply appreciative of Donna’s significant contributions over the past four years. She has spearheaded a substantial transformation within our ad sales organization, drawing attention to the untapped potential of U.S. Hispanic consumers in the advertising industry. Her relentless advocacy efforts have brought hundreds of new advertisers on board and broadened the market’s perception of our worth.

Under her guidance, we have elevated our advertising capabilities and opened up fresh cross-platform opportunities for brands, raising the bar for sophistication. This has redefined how we engage with marketers and bolstered our competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.

Addressing Tim: Tim has a wealth of expertise in heading influential commercial ventures at the junction of media, technology, and consumer habits. His latest role was as the U.S. Head of Enterprise Sales for TikTok, where he collaborated with leading corporations from the Fortune 500 and significant advertising agencies to provide large-scale performance and creator-focused marketing solutions. His previous positions at Roku, Amazon, and Google demonstrate a history of promoting platform expansion, boosting advertiser adoption, and crafting market strategies for streaming services, e-commerce, and digital advertising. Tim’s strategic thinking and organizational discipline make him an ideal choice to spearhead our upcoming growth in revenue and market dominance. In his spare time, he probably enjoys watching the NBA playoffs while his daughter watches Pocoyo on ViX.

Hey there fellow gamers! I’m thrilled to share that starting soon, you’ll be seeing more of me as I’ll be splitting my time between LA, NY (where many of our awesome team members and partners are), Miami, Chicago, and other key markets. Can’t wait for us all to connect more deeply once I officially join the TelevisaUnivision squad!
In the meantime, let’s give a big round of applause to Donna for her fantastic leadership and contributions. And, let’s extend a warm welcome to our new teammate, Tim, as he joins our family here at TelevisaUnivision!

Of course, feel free to reach out if you’d prefer to discuss the recent changes or if there’s something specific you’d like to talk about that could help us maintain our progress. I appreciate your contributions to the ongoing journey at TelevisaUnivision. Thank you!

OR

I’m here if you’d like to chat about the updates, or if you have anything else on your mind that might help us move forward together. Thanks for being part of the growth tale at TelevisaUnivision. Cheers!

Daniel

###

Speciale’s memo:

Team,

According to Daniel, I will be leaving my position on June 9th, and Tim Natividad will join TelevisaUnivision as President of U.S. Advertising Sales and Marketing. This decision wasn’t taken lightly; it followed a lot of contemplation and is made with great pride in what we have achieved together. It also recognizes the significant moment we are at to bring about even more change. It seems appropriate to conclude this phase and create room for new opportunities – for me personally, as well as for this outstanding team.

Over the past four years, this experience has been nothing less than remarkable. When I assumed this position, my aim was to maximize the potential of our platform for the marketers we cater to and make sure that the often-overlooked U.S. Hispanic audience was recognized, comprehended, and given priority. The accomplishments we’ve made together surpassed every anticipation I had when starting this endeavor.

Over time, we’ve developed side by side, making significant impacts on our sector. Our collective efforts have reshaped industry discussions and established TelevisaUnivision as an ideal collaborator for numerous brands, more so than ever before.

Under Tim’s guidance and alongside an exceptional leadership group including John, Dan, Jenna, Phil, Antonio, Matt, and Roberto, you can rest assured that you are in capable hands. Each member of this team brings a unique blend of clarity, conviction, and focus to guide us effectively through the next phase of our journey with purpose. In the upcoming weeks, Tim and I will collaborate closely with the entire team to orchestrate a seamless, deliberate transition that continues to build upon the solid foundation we’ve established together.

Later on today, I’m looking forward to meeting up with my gaming crew, including Dan, where we’ll welcome the new guy, Tim. He’ll give us a quick rundown about himself before officially becoming part of our team.

While we navigate through these transformative times in our industry, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude – for your partnership, your unwavering passion, and the faith you’ve placed in us. Every day brings new seismic shifts, but it’s essential that we, as a team, maintain our focus on propelling forward this momentum. We move ahead, hand in hand, because the chance to shape the future is still very much within your grasp.

With deep gratitude,
Donna

Read More

2025-06-02 18:25