ViX Executive Pierluigi Gazzolo to Step Down at TelevisaUnivision

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but draw parallels between the gaming industry and the world of streaming media. Pierluigi Gazzolo’s departure from ViX feels eerily similar to the infamous “Nintendo Power” magazine editor-in-chief stepping down after a successful run.

At the close of the year, Pierluigi Gazzolo, the CEO of ViX, will be leaving his position at TelevisaUnivision, following the streaming service’s achievement of its initial profitability in Spanish.

As a devoted fan, I’m sharing the news that I learned on Thursday: Daniel Alegre, our new CEO at TelevisaUnivision, announced that Gazzolo, who joined us in 2021, will be departing too. Interestingly enough, this decision comes after ViX, a key part of our company, became profitable for the first time, as revealed in the third quarter earnings we disclosed earlier this week.

Moving forward to the next stage of development for our platform, I’m pleased to announce that following extensive discussions with Pierluigi Gazzolo, he has chosen to resign from his position as CEO of ViX at year-end,” Alegre shared in a confidential communication to TelevisaUnivision staff members, which The Hollywood Reporter obtained.

On September 19, Alegre assumed the position of CEO at TelevisaUnivision, replacing Wade Davis who stepped down to become Vice Chairman of the same company’s board. Previously, Alegre served as President and COO of Activision Blizzard and CEO of Yuga Labs.

In his internal communication, Gazzolo expressed that the recent success and prosperity at ViX enabled him to depart and seek fresh personal and career endeavors. He stated, “This pivotal moment of advancement is one that makes my personal evolution journey here seem finished – the moment is opportune for me to conclude this chapter, take some time to rejuvenate, and discover what new experiences will inspire me.

On his initial analyst conference call for TelevisaUnivision this week, Alegre expressed that one of their main focuses would be to align the company’s U.S. and Mexican operations more closely.

Copies of the internal memos from Alegre and Gazzolo follow:

From Daniel Alegre, CEO of TelevisaUnivision

Team –

In the recent earnings report, our digital strategy has shown significant advancements, with VIX seeing remarkable growth. I couldn’t be more proud of what our team has accomplished. As we move into the next phase of platform growth, I have exciting news to share. After extensive discussions with Pierluigi Gazzolo, he has chosen to step down from his position as CEO of ViX at year-end. This decision reflects Pierluigi’s wish to step away for a while to explore new personal and professional ventures, which I wholeheartedly endorse.

The strategic project that Pierluigi and his team took on a little over three years ago turned into one of our most important endeavors, vital to our overall business globally.  The long nights and passionate work that Pierluigi brought to the table, along with the tremendous leadership team he helped build, are a testament to his incredible qualities as a leader. A friend to many, Pierluigi has made an indelible impact on TelevisaUnivision’s evolution, playing an integral role in driving forth the company’s digital and streaming transformation following the merger. Looking ahead, Pierluigi will remain at the company through December, and he will work with ViX COO Rafael Urbina along with the rest of the leadership team throughout the transition.

Let’s all take a moment to thank Pierluigi for his exceptional work at our company. We’re regretful that he’s leaving, but we wholeheartedly wish him great success as he embarks on the next phase of his career.

Daniel

From Pierluigi Gazzolo, CEO of ViX

Team,

Looking back on my journey, I’ve chosen to relinquish my position as CEO of ViX by the year’s end. This wasn’t an easy choice, as my tenure here has been an incredibly enriching and rewarding chapter in my professional life. When I came aboard Univision in January 2021 as President and Chief Transformation Officer, my goal was clear: to transform. With the backing of Alfonso, Bernardo, and Wade, I was granted the chance to reshape this organization to cater to the contemporary demands of our audience. Hand-in-hand with all of you, we ventured into a challenging media landscape, seizing the final significant open opportunity in streaming to introduce a distinctive product that would grow into the world’s largest Spanish-language streaming service.

As a gamer, I’m thrilled to share with you all my sense of accomplishment we’ve achieved together with ViX. This year, we’ve broken viewership and revenue records, and our reach has broadened extensively across various platforms and regions. We’re now delivering top-notch entertainment in Spanish to audiences worldwide. To add to the excitement, we announced ViX’s profitability during our Q3 earnings this week – a remarkable feat that speaks volumes about the dedication and ingenuity of every member within this organization. I mustn’t forget to mention our fantastic partners from Televisa networks and studios in Mexico, who have been instrumental in providing us with captivating content and promotion.

At this juncture of advancement, I find that my journey of personal growth seems to have reached its zenith – the moment is ripe for me to conclude this phase, take some time off to rejuvenate, and discover the fresh endeavor that will inspire me moving forward. It has been a distinct honor and profound privilege to collaborate with such an accomplished, enthusiastic, and committed team of professionals. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Alfonso, Bernardo, and Wade for entrusting me with this crucial project, as well as Daniel for his unwavering backing throughout this period.

According to Daniel’s memo, we’re going to collaborate closely with both Daniel and Rafa for several weeks ahead, figuring out the optimal leadership setup for ViX. For now, it’s full steam ahead as we aim to finish 2024 on a high note. What an exciting ride it’s been so far, and I can’t thank you all enough.

Pierluigi

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2024-10-24 18:25