Schwarz Upped & Pineda Swaps @ Univision.

Univision Communications Inc. announced the appointment of Cristina Schwarz to Vice President, Government and Community Relations for Univision Communications. Ramon J. Pineda replaces Schwarz as Vice President and General Manager of Univision Television Group’s New York stations, which include WXTV-Channel 41 and WFUT-Channel 68, effective immediately. Schwarz will remain based in New York and will report to Robert V. Cahill, Vice Chairman and Corporate Vice President, Univision Communications. Pineda will be based in New York and will report to Michael D. Wortsman and Thomas Arnost, Co-Presidents, Univision Television Group.

In her new role, Schwarz will work alongside Ivelisse Estrada, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Community Relations, in the development and coordination of community and corporate affairs. Schwarz’s responsibilities will center on Government relations strategies, with a focus on Washington D.C. and New York.

“Univision’s bond with the Hispanic community is unique and deep,” said Schwarz. “Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to develop public service campaigns for the station that address important issues among Hispanics. I am truly looking forward to continue working with Ivelisse to ensure that elected officials and other leaders understand the special needs of the growing Hispanic community. Ramon is the ideal choice to lead the New York stations in this next chapter and I wish him all the best.”

“I am very excited to return to New York, the number one television marketplace in the United States,” said Pineda. “I have been fortunate to have worked with Univision’s tremendously talented management teams in Phoenix and Tucson, and I thank them for their support. Univision’s television stations are growing at record rates nationwide, and I look forward to building on Cristina’s efforts and contributing to the growth of New York’s most-watched Spanish-language television stations.”

“We wish Cristina all the best in her expanded new role and we are thrilled to welcome Ramon to New York,” said Wortsman and Arnost. “Cristina is a proven leader in Spanish-language media who has built our New York station into a major player in the overall media market and created several award-winning community outreach initiatives. Ramon is a knowledgeable broadcasting executive who has brought much success to our stations in Arizona, and we are thrilled that he is now leading our operations in New York. These are two well-deserved promotions.”

Cristina Schwarz has worked for Univision Communications in various positions for over fifteen years. During her career, she has focused her efforts on reaching out to the nearly 4 million Hispanics who reside in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. As Vice President and General Manager of Univision’s New York stations, she made a firm commitment to local news and community outreach programs. Under her direction, Univision 41 was the first station to launch a late newscast as well as weekend and early morning news programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management from New York University’s School of Business.

Ramon Pineda previously served as Vice President and General Manager of Univision and TeleFutura Stations in Phoenix and Tucson. Prior to joining Univision, Pineda was Vice President and General Manager of Telemundo’s WNJU-Channel 47 in New York, a position he held for more than two years. Previously, Pineda spent five years as President of Caballero Spanish Media at Interep, the largest dedicated Spanish radio sales force in the industry, where he also began his career in 1985 as a sales account executive in New York. Pineda earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University in English and Theatre in 1981.