Luis Villanueva

Luis Villanueva

Villanueva at SomosTV, LLC. 2009
Born 1957
Caracas, Venezuela
Nationality Venezuelan
Occupation President and Chief Executive Officer of SomosTV LLC, Somos Distribution LLC, Somos Next LLC, and Somos Productions LLC.
Years active 1982–present
Website somostv.net

Luis Villanueva is an international television and entertainment executive that has made significant contributions to the Latin American and U.S. Hispanic entertainment markets.[1][2][3] He is currently President and CEO of SomosTV LLC, a company dedicated to the Pay TV markets in the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. SomosTV has developed, manages and markets three television networks, “ViendoMovies” y “Semillitas".[3] Villanueva also oversees Somos Distribution LLC, an independent distributor of audiovisual programming worldwide, Somos Productions LLC, an independent programming producer. In 2014 Villanueva also launched Somos Next LLC, an Internet "OTT" content distributor, with an extensive catalog of films under the brand FlixLatino and children's animation under the brand "Pingüinitos" for the United States Hispanic Market.[4][4]

Background

Villanueva is a (Venezuelan/American) born in 1957. There he attended the Andres Bello Catholic University where he received an MBA in Finance.[5][6] He started a career in finance eventually becoming the Finance Manager of Banco Consolidado, one of the leading banking institutions in Venezuela at that time.[7]

In 1982, Villanueva joined the Cisneros Group where he worked for 26 years. While working for Cisneros Group, he held several key operational and executive positions including Head of Operations for Venevision Venezuela, Corporate Vice President of Finance and Development, President and CEO of Venevision Chile, and President and CEO of Venevision International.[5][6]

Villanueva is recognized for diversifying Venevision International, originally a TV content distributor, into an all around solid entertainment company. Some of his accomplishments include leading Venevision International to become the first distributor of films originally produced in Spanish for the Hispanic Market via theatrical, pay-per-view, home video, cable TV and free TV.[8][9] He launched the 24-hour Pay TV channel ViendoMovies and expanded Venevision International to the international music business by creating the music labels VeneMusic and Siente Music and organizing live concerts internationally. Villanueva also expanded the TV programs production business with Venevision International Productions, making telenovelas, talk shows and other content that were aired by prestigious US and international broadcasters. Under his leadership Venevision International expanded into the wireless entertainment industry and the audiobook market with VeneMobile, Latcel, Fonolibro and the online portal NOVULU.[8][9][10]

Villanueva served on the Boards of Directors of Claxson Interactive Group (XSONF) and Backus and Johnston. He is director of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences which presents the Emmy Awards and was on the Board of Trustees for the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (LARAS) which presents the Latin Grammy Awards.[11][12] Villanueva has been a trustee of Palmer Trinity School a prestigious private education institution.[13]

Awards and honors

In March 2002, Villanueva was given the keys to the City of Miami, a merit given by the City to Venevision International for their exceptional contribution to the arts and culture of the local community. Villanueva also received two of the highest honors bestowed by the Venezuelan government, the Order of Diego Losada (First Class) and the Order of Francisco de Miranda (Second Class).[14]

References

  1. ↑ Leila Cobo (July 2004). Vene Gets Guerra for a Christian Disc. Billboard. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  2. ↑ Leila Cobo (March 2003). EMI Latin USA Signs Distribution Deal With Venevision International. BillBoard. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  3. 1 2 "Comcast Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Special On Demand Programming That Highlights the Best of Latin Culture". MarketWatch. September 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  4. 1 2 "SOMOS SHOW, a new business venture by Luis Villanueva". ttvmedianews. February 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  5. 1 2 "Personaje de la semana: Luis Villanueva, presidente y CEO de Venevision International" (in Spanish). Diario.Produ. February 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  6. 1 2 "CLAXSON INTERACTIVE GROUP". Reuters. November 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  7. ↑ Banco de Venezuela
  8. 1 2 International Turns to New Media In 2009.-a0193907864 "Venevision International Turns to New Media In 2009" Check |url= value (help). The Free Library. February 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  9. 1 2 Christina Hoag (2008). "Venevision Masters Media". The Miami Herald (March 17): G4–G12.
  10. ↑ International Launches "Venemobile" Wireless Entertainment...-a0164213442 "Venevision International Launches "Venemobile" Wireless Entertainment Business" Check |url= value (help). The Free Library. March 2007. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
  11. ↑ "Contacts". The Latin Recording Academy. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  12. ↑ "Directors & Alternatives". The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  13. ↑ "Board of Trustees". Palmer Trinity School. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  14. ↑ "Condecoraciones de Venezuela" (in Spanish). Venezuelan Government. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
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