Telemundo is revamping and beefing up its music division. The network has upped veteran executive Mario Ruiz to the post of SVP of Music and Entertainment projects, effective immediately.
Ruiz, previously SVP Talent Development and Strategy for the network, is now tasked with identifying new music-based programming ideas, discovering new musical talent and forming partnerships with the music industry for the Telemundo Network, NBC Universo, Telemundo International and Telemundo’s digital platforms.
He will continue to report to Luis Silberwasser, president of the Telemundo network.
In turn, Ruiz’s post will be taken over by Mara Arakelian, former management director of Bobo Producciones in Mexico. She will be based alternately between Mexico and Miami, also reporting to Silberwasser.
Ruiz, a former record executive with longstanding ties in the Latin music industry, has been instrumental in attracting and signing new talent to Telemundo, including top Hispanic stars such as Angelica Vale, Lucero, Pedro Fernandez, Laura Flores, Natalia Jimenez, Blanca Soto and Daddy Yankee. He was previously a consultant and producer with the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, where he was a consultant and executive producer since 2011 and helmed several of the Academy’s Person of the Year galas.
Prior to LARAS, Ruiz worked at Univision Networks as VP of talent.
“Mario is the perfect executive to create and execute a growth strategy that will generate new revenues and profits, leveraging our current music-centric projects and creating other entertainment-based opportunities,” said Silberwasser.
While at Bobo, Arakelian oversaw talent positioning strategy and negotiated contracts with various media companies in Mexico and the U.S. At Telemundo, she will oversee all talent relations and casting functions in both U.S. and international locations.
Telemundo has been upping its music-centric programming in recent years with successful shows like La Voz Kids and music-based series like Celia, which have redefined Sunday night programming for both the network and Spanish language television. Telemundo also launched its new Latin American Music Awards last year.