Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic announce new Corporate leadership

Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic (DLA/USH), a division of Discovery Communications, announced tthe appointment of Allan Navarrete as General Manager (GM) and Angela Recio Sondon as the Vice President (VP) of Content for the company’s U.S. Hispanic division. Both appointments are effective immediately and based in Mexico City and Miami respectively.  Ivan Bargueiras will continue as Senior Vice President, Advertising Sales for DLA/USH.
 
Navarrete assumes this new role adding to his current responsibilities as Executive Vice President (EVP) and General Manager of Mexico, Andean Region and Central America, for Discovery Networks Latin America. He will report directly to Enrique R. Martínez, President and Managing Director of Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic and Canada.
 
DLA/USH is also announcing the appointment of Angela Recio Sondon as the new Vice President of Content for the company’s U.S. Hispanic networks. Sondon will continue to report to Carolina Lightcap, Head of Content for Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic and Navarrete.
 
“Allan is a strong, strategic and collaborative leader and has played a critical role in our success in the Mexican region in addition to managing the Colombian and Central American markets and leading their growth. He is held in the highest of regards by both his colleagues and the industry and I am confident that Allan will continue to make great contributions to our company,” Martínez said.
 
“Angela is an outstanding television executive with a tremendous depth of experience in managing and developing successful channels. Her leadership skills, creativity and strong relationships in the industry will further our success as we continue to fortify our presence in the U.S. Hispanic market and invest in new content,” said Lightcap.
 
As GM for Discovery U.S. Hispanic, Navarrete is responsible for leading the business expansion within the company’s portfolio of Spanish-language networks in the U.S. which include Discovery en Español and Discovery Familia.
 
Navarrete started his career at Discovery in 1995, holding several senior positions within the distribution side of the business across Latin America, Spain and Portugal. In 2005, he transferred to Discovery’s global headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland to assume the position of vice president for channel distribution for the U.S. Hispanic market, where he contributed to the implementation of sales, distribution and marketing strategies for the company’s portfolio of Spanish-language channels in the U.S. Prior to being named senior vice president and general manager for Mexico for DLA/USH in 2010, Navarrete served as vice president for Latin American sales at NBC Universal International Television Distribution.

In her role as VP of Content for Discovery U.S. Hispanic, Recio Sondon will be responsible for the strategy and implementation of programming, marketing (off-air and on-air), communications and digital efforts for Discovery en Español and Discovery Familia. In addition, she will communicate brand strategies and act as liaison with the advertising and affiliate sales units of the company.

Recio Sondon began her career at Discovery in 2005 working in various senior capacities within the content area, most recently, as vice president of program sourcing and acquisitions for DLA/USH, where she provided direction in the sourcing of owned and acquired content, and support in key programming decision-making for Discovery’s entire Latin America and U.S. Hispanic portfolio. Prior to that, Recio Sondon served as vice president and channel director for the factual, lifestyle, kids and emerging channels, helping shape the positioning, strategy and promotion of DLA/USH’s networks. She first joined Discovery as Director of Programming and Production for Discovery U.S. Hispanic. Prior to joining Discovery, Recio Sondon was director of programming, production and acquisitions for Disney and Jetix Latin America and director of programming and on-air for MGM Latin America. Recio Sondon initiated her career in the television industry in the U.S. Hispanic market, working for Univision and Telemundo.