MIAMI, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2010) The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has elected seasoned media executive Ray Rodriguez to the board of trustees.
Rodriguez is the former President and COO of Univision Communications. During his tenure, he helped transform Univision into a Hispanic media empire including three television networks, an Internet portal and a major radio company. Univision’s ratings regularly surpass at least one of the English-speaking competitors in major television markets, putting it on par with networks like ABC, CBS and NBC.
Ray Rodriguez
“Ray is a logical addition to our board team,” said Rob Briggs, Knight Foundation’s Chairman of the Board. “The transformational style with which he helped lead Univision perfectly suits Knight Foundation.”
“Ray understands the critical role of information in a democracy. And his medium, television, is the country’s most popular source of news,” said Alberto Ibargüen, Knight Foundation’s president and CEO. “Ray’s expertise and insight will inform Knight Foundation strategy, especially as we expand the scope of our partnerships with innovators and national leaders to help our society meet its information needs.”
“Knight Foundation is a national leader in strengthening our democracy as the seismic changes in technology continue to turn the journalism industry upside down and impact our communities,” said Ray Rodriguez. “Given my passion for media and for community, I couldn’t think of a more fitting organization to join.”
A native of Cuba, Rodriguez began his career with Deloitte & Touche and later worked as entertainer Julio Iglesias’ worldwide manager and CEO. He joined Univision in 1990 as vice president, ultimately spending 20 years helping to lead the company before retiring in 2009.
A graduate of the University of Miami, Rodriguez is the founding president of the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation and helped establish Miami’s Calle Ocho Festival, the largest celebration of Hispanic culture in the nation. He also was a board member of the United Way of Miami-Dade and is a member of the Miami Business Forum, a local business group.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote informed and engaged communities and lead to transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
Contact: Marc Fest, Vice President of Communications, Knight Foundation,
305-908-2677; [email protected]
A high resolution photo of Ray Rodriguez is here: http://xylink.com/rodriguez