Manuel Abud

{{short description|Mexican-American media executive|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Manuel Abud

| alt =

| caption =

| image = 2023-11-16 Gala de los Latin Grammy, 36 (Manuel Abud).jpg

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Mexico City, Mexico

| nationality = Dual citizenship Mexican and American

| occupation = Former CEO of Azteca America, President of Telemundo Station Group, Founder of Mun2 (Now NBC Universo), President of CBS Telenoticias

| title = CEO of The Latin Recording Academy

}}

Manuel Abud is a Mexican-American business and entertainment executive and the current of CEO of the Latin Recording Academy having succeeded Gabriel Abaroa in August 2021.{{cite magazine |last1=Cobo |first1=Leila |title=Latin Recording Academy CEO Gabriel Abaroa Departing |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/9571267/latin-recording-academy-ceo-gabriel-abaroa-manuel-abud/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=5 August 2021 |date=12 May 2021}} Abud previously served as chief operating officer. An advocate for Latin creators, Abud's passion lies in creating an inclusive cultural institution within The Latin Recording Academy that enables artists and audiences to share their heritage through music. During his time as COO of the academy, Abud oversaw the day-to-day operation of the Latin Academy, including the areas of business development, communications, digital, marketing and production, in addition to spearheading several international and local growth initiatives. While COO of the Latin Academy, Abud successfully led a major reorganization, maximizing efficiencies and taking a swift leap to digital content development. In addition, he further developed a strong and clear positioning for the organization, leveraging its heritage and plans for the future.

Abud's work in U.S. Hispanic media has made him an expert in Latin entertainment. He previously served as president and CEO of Azteca América. Over an impressive media industry career spanning more than 30 years, he has held a wide range of high-level executive positions. He has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the arts and entertainment landscape in U.S. Hispanic media. At Azteca América, he implemented a full-scale turnaround of the network and spearheaded the November 2017 acquisition by HC2 Holdings, Inc.

Prior to Azteca, he held prominent leadership positions at NBC Universal, where he spent more than 14 years as president of the Telemundo Station Group, TV station president and general

manager in the Los Angeles and Dallas markets, and president of Telemundo Cable. Prior to that, Abud was president of CBS Telenoticias. Earlier in his career, he worked for leading Mexican companies Televisa, Medcom and ICA.

In additional to his professional endeavors, Abud serves on the board of councilors at the USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism. He has also served on the boards of the Texas Association of Broadcasters, Junior Achievement of Dallas, the YWCA Foundation of Fort Worth, the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, the Ronald McDonald House of Charities of Southern California and the Pasadena Red Cross, among others.

Abud received a bachelor's degree in accounting from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and an MBA from Houston Baptist University. He resides in Miami with his wife of 32 years, Angie. They have three grown children.

Personal life

Manuel Abud was born in Mexico City, and received a bachelor's degree from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México in 1986. He earned his MBA from Houston Baptist University, Texas, in 1991.{{cite web|title=Speaker's Biography: Manuel Abud|url=http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/conferences/state-of-the-state/2005/speaker-detail/1879|website=milkeninstitute.org|publisher=Milken Institute}}

Boards

Abud currently serves on the Board of Councilors at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.{{cite web|url=http://annenberg.usc.edu/news/news/mark-greenberg-lead-usc-annenberg-board-councilors-lisa-gersh-and-manuel-abud-join-board|title=Mark Greenberg to lead USC Annenberg Board of Councilors; Lisa Gersh and Manuel Abud join board|website=USC Annenberg News|publisher=USC Annenberg|last1=Parker McCartney|first1=Gretchen|accessdate=20 April 2016}} In addition, he has served on the boards of the Texas Association of Broadcasters,{{cite web|title=Broadcasters elect new officers, directors|url=https://www.tab.org/news-and-events/news/broadcasters-elect-new-officers-directors|website=Tab.org|publisher=Texas Association of Broadcasters|accessdate=26 August 2009}} Junior Achievement of Dallas, the YWCA Foundation of Fort Worth,{{cite web|title=Telemundo media names Manuel Abud President of Telemundo Station Group|url=http://www.impactony.com/telemundo-media-names-manuel-abud-president-of-telemundo-station-group/#sthash.hv8U2fDU.dpbs|website=impactony.com|publisher=impacto New York|accessdate=13 December 2011}} the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, the Ronald McDonald House of Charities of Southern California,{{cite web|last1=Marinez|first1=Juan|title=TRPI Appoints McDonald's Senior VP to Board|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/lulac-mn/conversations/topics/3555|website=yahoo.com|publisher=Yahoo|accessdate=20 August 2007}} and the Pasadena Red Cross.

Career

=== The Latin Recording Academy ===

Manuel Abud is the Latin Recording Academy's[32] new CEO and was previously the academy's COO, joining the organization in 2019 and leading the academy through a major reorganization as well as taking a leap into digital content development. Abud also oversees the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation [33], a charitable foundation that, through grants and scholarships, aims to bring awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions of Latin music and its makers of the world. An advocate for Latin creators, Abud's passion lies in creating an inclusive cultural institution within The Latin Recording Academy that enables artists and audiences to share their heritage through music. The Latin Recording Academy strives to nurture, celebrate, honor and elevate Latin music and its makers around the world by being an advocate for Latin creators.

= Televisa =

Abud was director of investor relations at Grupo Televisa, where he played a key role in its initial public offering and subsequent listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

= Grupo Medcom =

As chief financial officer of Grupo Medcom, which owned radio, television and printed media properties, Abud was in charge of more than 50 corporations, and oversaw the operation of a television station in Guadalajara.{{cite web|title=Speaker's Biography: Manuel Abud|url=http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/conferences/state-of-the-state/2005/speaker-detail/1879|website=milkeninstitute.org|publisher=Milken Institute}}

= CBS Telenoticias =

He was president of CBS Telenoticias from 1999 to March 2000. There he re-launched the network as Telemundo Internacional, changing it from an all-news to a news and entertainment format, reaching more than 6 million subscribers.{{cite web|title=Telemundo media names Manuel Abud President of Telemundo Station Group|url=http://www.impactony.com/telemundo-media-names-manuel-abud-president-of-telemundo-station-group/#sthash.hv8U2fDU.dpbs|website=impactony.com|publisher=impacto New York|accessdate=13 December 2011}}

= Mun2 (Now NBC Universo) =

The bilingual cable network for young Hispanics, Mun2,{{cite web|last1=Umstead|first1=Thomas|title=Mun2 Reaches Out to Young Hispanics|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/orphan-articles/mun2-reaches-out-young-hispanics/139529|website=multichannel.com|publisher=Multichannel News|accessdate=16 September 2001}} was launched in late 2001.{{cite web|title=Telemundo debuts Mun2 TV network|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2001/10/08/daily19.html?page=all|website=bizjournals.com|publisher=Orlando Business Journal|accessdate=10 October 2001}} Abud, president, was considered one of the original architects of the channel.{{cite web|title=Telemundo media names Manuel Abud President of Telemundo Station Group |url=http://www.impactony.com/telemundo-media-names-manuel-abud-president-of-telemundo-station-group/#sthash.hv8U2fDU.dpbs|website=impactony.com|publisher=impacto New York|accessdate=13 December 2011}}

= Telemundo Media =

Abud became president of Telemundo Cable in 2000,{{cite web|title=Telemundo media names Manuel Abud President of Telemundo Station Group|url=http://www.impactony.com/telemundo-media-names-manuel-abud-president-of-telemundo-station-group/#sthash.hv8U2fDU.dpbs|website=impactony.com|publisher=impacto New York|accessdate=13 December 2011}} a group of cable networks made up of Telemundo Internacional, the news and entertainment channel broadcast to Latin America, the U.S. and Canadian Hispanics.

As part of Telemundo Media, Abud held management positions as TV station general manager at KVEA-TV{{cite web|title=Digital Television Must-Carry and Multicasting|url=http://www.c-span.org/person/?manuelabud

|website=c-span.org|publisher=C-SPAN|accessdate=12 July 2005}} and KWHY-TV, Los Angeles and at KXTX-TV, Dallas.{{cite web|last1=Schneider|first1=Michael|title=Manuel Abud joins KXTX-TV|url=https://variety.com/2008/tv/news/manuel-abud-joins-kxtx-tv-1117979984/|website=variety.com|publisher=Variety|accessdate=31 January 2008}} On July 12, 2005, Abud testified on behalf of Telemundo before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee regarding legislation under consideration to regulate multicasting and the digital conversion of television.

= Telemundo Station Group =

In 2012, Abud became president of the Telemundo Station Group. In this role, Abud spearheaded the revitalization of the networks’ local stations strategic direction in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, taking the group to record high profitability levels and increasing the network's local news and programming by an unprecedented 1,500 yearly hours.{{cite web|title=ABUD, MANUEL Marketing & Media CEO & President – Azteca America|url=http://www.sadovnickpartners.com/leadership-videos-gallery.html|website=Sadovnickpartners.com|publisher=Sadovnick Partners|accessdate=14 December 2015}} Abud also increased community engagement for the network through initiatives such as Vota Por Tu Futuro (Vote for Your Future) which targeted voters during the 2012 election year.{{cite web|last1=Malone|first1=Michael|title=Telemundo Maps Out Local Strategy|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/telemundo-maps-out-local-strategy/43623|website=broadcastingcable.com|date=13 August 2012 |publisher=Broadcasting and Cable|accessdate=13 August 2012}}

= Azteca America =

Abud became president and chief executive officer of Azteca America on March 3, 2014,{{cite web|title=Abud named CEO of Azteca América|url=http://www.mediamoves.com/tag/manuel-abud|website=mediamoves.com|publisher=Media Moves|accessdate=3 March 2014}} where he reorganized the network and reinforced the company's network and digital sales divisions.{{cite web|last1=de la Fuente|first1=Anna Marie|title=Azteca America Expands Programming Slate as Ratings Improve|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/azteca-america-ratings-upfront-growth-ratings-1201751230/ |website=Variety.com|date=12 April 2016 |publisher=Variety}} New programming initiatives included a bolstered soccer presence; original productions such as telenovelas and comedy shows; an award program to recognize the outstanding achievement of Hispanic Women in the U.S.;{{cite web|last1=The Deadline Team|title=Azteca Unveils Strengthened Soccer Lineup, New Comedy Format; Announces Azteca Station Group|url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/aztecas-2014-2015-slate-includes-strengthened-soccer-lineup-new-comedy-format-announces-azteca-station-group-729464/|website=Deadline|date=13 May 2014 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=13 May 2014}} and a web series.{{cite web|last1=Baysinger|first1=Tim|title=Azteca America and Ford Are Launching a Web Series That's All About Strength|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/azteca-america-and-ford-are-launching-web-series-thats-all-about-strength-165754|website=adweek.com|publisher=Adweek|accessdate=6 July 2015}} These strategic changes under Abud's leadership have led the network to increase in market share against its larger competitors.{{cite web|last1=de la Fuente|first1=Anna Marie|title=Azteca America Expands Programming Slate as Ratings Improve|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/azteca-america-ratings-upfront-growth-ratings-1201751230/|website=Variety.com|date=12 April 2016 |publisher=Variety|accessdate=12 April 2016}}

In November 2015, Azteca America was the fastest-growing Spanish-language network year-over-year among total viewers and A18-49, up 48 percent and 57 percent year-over-year growth in the demos, respectively, according to Nielsen. Reaching more than 9.6 million total viewers and more than 4.2 million A18-49 in prime time, Azteca also delivered the network's highest rated November prime time performance in three years.{{cite web|last1=TV BY THE NUMBERS|title=Azteca America Scores Double Digit Ratings Growth Over Year Ago With Liga MX Apertura Tournament|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/08/05/azteca-america-scores-double-digit-ratings-growth-over-year-ago-with-liga-mx-apertura-tournament/443308/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811020449/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/08/05/azteca-america-scores-double-digit-ratings-growth-over-year-ago-with-liga-mx-apertura-tournament/443308/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2015|website=tvbythenumbers|publisher=Zap2It|accessdate=5 August 2015}} In April 2016, the network announced the creation of Azteca GlassWorks, its new digital content studio, designed to enhance storytelling and native brand integration for advertisers.{{cite web|last1=Ariens|first1=Chris|title=This Media Network Is Taking Its Storytelling Directly to Advertisers|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/media-network-taking-its-storytelling-directly-advertisers-170738|website=Adweek.com|publisher=Adweek|accessdate=12 April 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Farril|first1=Luisa|title=Azteca Unveils Glassworks Digital Content Studio|url=http://hispanicmarketworks.org/newsletter/azteca-unveils-glassworks-digital-content-studio/|website=Hispanic Marketworks|publisher=Hispanic Marketworks.org/|accessdate=18 April 2016}}

Azteca won the Spanish-language broadcast rights to the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, which aired on the network December 20, 2015. The decision to bid for the broadcast followed controversial remarks from a presidential candidate that led Univision to pull out of the broadcast.{{cite news|title=Miss Universe Contestant from Philippines Wins 2015 Pageant|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-isnt-center-of-miss-universe-as-pageant-crowns-winner-1450651187?cb=logged0.5320150989573449&cb=logged0.7553952240850776|accessdate=20 December 2015|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=20 December 2015}}

As a keynote speaker at MIPCancun Latin America TV Market and Summit on November 16, 2016, Abud commented on what storytellers can learn from President-elect Donald Trump's general election victory, calling the campaign a “major lesson” for broadcasters and media.{{Cite web|url=http://www.todotvnews.com/news/MipCancn-2016-creatividad-latinoamericana.html|title=MipCancún 2016: creatividad latinoamericana|last=@todotvnews|website=Todotvnews|language=en|access-date=2017-02-24}}{{Cite news|url=http://hispanicmarketworks.org/newsletter/we-are-storytellers/|title=We Are StoryTellers - Hispanic Market Works|last=HMW|date=2016-11-21|newspaper=Hispanic Market Works|access-date=2017-02-24|language=en-US}}

On November 29, 2017, Azteca America announced its acquisition by HC2 Holdings, Inc. from TV Azteca. The transaction, spearheaded by Abud, included in part a multi-year programming and services agreement with TV Azteca's programming and content library in Mexico. The deal with HC2, considered by Abud to be an important transaction in the network's history, will help Azteca expand its reach and become more competitive with the other networks in the U.S. Hispanic landscape. Abud remains at the helm of the network.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/29/globe-newswire-tv-azteca-announces-the-sale-of-azteca-america-to-hc2-network-inc.html|title=TV Azteca Announces the Sale of Azteca America to HC2 Network Inc.|last=CNBC|date=2017-11-29|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-03-21}}

= Social Responsibility =

Under Abud, Azteca has been involved in several community-growth and social responsibility campaigns through its foundation, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060506045332/http://www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/ Fundación Azteca America]}}.{{cite web|last1=Dovalpage|first1=Teresa|title=I feel very fortunate to be at the epicenter of the tremendous revolution that is taking place now|url=http://hispanicexecutive.com/2015/azteca/|website=Hispanic Executive|date=10 December 2015 |publisher=Hispanicexecutive.com|accessdate=18 February 2016}} The network supports [https://web.archive.org/web/20160907075637/http://esperanzaaztecausa.org/ Esperanza Azteca], the first U.S.-based Hispanic youth orchestra, which helps underprivileged students develop musical skills, leadership, discipline and teamwork.{{cite web|title=Esperanza Azteca Symphony Orchestras|url=http://www.esperanzaaztecausa.com/#!about/cngp|website=Esperanzaaztecausa.com|accessdate=18 February 2016}} In September 2016, Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo performed at a Los Angeles benefit for Esperanza Azteca Los Angeles Youth Orchestra supporting young musicians from the Los Angeles area.{{Cite news|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Plcido-Domingo-Performs-With-Esperanza-Azteca-Youth-Orchestra-20160928|title=Plácido Domingo Performs With Esperanza Azteca Youth Orchestra|author=BWW News Desk|newspaper=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2016-10-13}} Azteca also partnered with [http://give.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/ Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals] for the “[https://web.archive.org/web/20160319234627/http://us.azteca.com/milagrosazteca Salvé Un Angelito … ¡Te Toca!]” fundraising campaign which kicked off in 2015.{{cite web|title=About Our Orchestra|url=http://www.esperanzaaztecausa.com/#!about/cngp|website=Esperanzaaztecausa.com|publisher=Esperanza Azteca USA|accessdate=18 February 2016}} The campaign raises awareness and funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and pediatric cancer patients.