Univision Hires Michael Schwimmer To Lead Global Platform Strategy

Univision Communications continues to beef up its executive ranks and build momentum for its new, yet-to-launch global streaming platform. Today, the company announced it has hired Michael Schwimmer as President, Global Platform Strategy and Revenue. It is a newly created executive position, which it says complements its “redesigned corporate leadership structure ahead of the close of Univision’s previously announced combination with Televisa.”  

Schwimmer, who will report directly to CEO Wade Davis, will centralize distribution of the company’s platform, content offerings and sales opportunities that drive revenue growth. 

“His extensive experience leading the strategy for multicultural and AVOD offerings and his proven track record navigating corporate transformations make him the ideal addition to our team, and his expertise and passion for increasing Spanish-language representation in the media speaks to our company’s purpose,” says Davis. 

Schwimmer will be tasked with capitalizing on Univision’s more than 300,000 hours of existing Spanish-language content to reach audiences worldwide. He will also work closely with Pierluigi Gazzolo, President and Chief Transformation Officer, on global app distribution for the company’s unified two-tiered streaming service, scheduled to launch in early 2022.

Schwimmer’s hire follows Univision’s January addition of four top-level executives recruited for its global platform team.

Prior to joining Univision, Schwimmer was Group President of Sling TV and Executive Vice President of DISH Media, where he managed all aspects of the Sling TV business, including strategy and performance, as well as oversaw the advertising sales business for the DISH enterprise. He was previously EVP of International, Business Development and Strategy at Sling TV, responsible for the company’s DISH TV and Sling TV multicultural and AVOD offerings. 

Schwimmer is no stranger to Hispanic media. He led cable network SíTV, which was rebranded to nuvoTV in 2011 before it merged with Fuse in 2015. He left his role as President and CEO of Fuse Media, leading the cross-platform entertainment media brand for multicultural youth that included Fuse and FM (Fuse Music BELFB ) linear channels, video-on-demand (VOD) and over-the-top (OTT) apps in 2019, the year the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

Schwimmer also led Programming, Marketing and Media Sales for DISH Network, playing a key role in launching DISH’s international programming business as well as the DISH Latino brand and services. Schwimmer sits on the Board of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) and is a member of the NAACP Entertainment Industry Board of Advisors.

“Supporting the global Spanish speaking community has been a lifelong personal passion of mine, so I am pleased to be part of Wade’s compelling vision to bring high quality Spanish language content to this still underserved audience in an advanced, consumer friendly streaming format,” says Schwimmer. “I look forward to leveraging my experience and hitting the ground running with my new colleagues in streaming as we build on Univision’s content and create a truly unmatched global offering.”