Cesar Conde
Cesar Conde is an American media executive, currently serving as Chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group. In this role, Conde has oversight of NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC, including editorial and business operations for the award-winning television and digital properties. Prior to this appointment, Conde was Chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and, even earlier, President of Univision's networks division.
Career
Conde was named Chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group in May 2020.Conde joined NBCUniversal in October 2013 as an executive vice president. In 2015 he was named Chairman, NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. As Chairman of NBCUniversal International Group, Conde was responsible for the operations and international expansion of NBCUniversal businesses outside of North America. As Chairman of NBCUniversal's Telemundo Enterprises, Conde oversaw the leading media properties that serve Hispanics worldwide. He was instrumental in building NBCU Telemundo Enterprises into a world-class media company that produces and distributes high-quality Spanish-language content across a range of broadcast, cable, and digital properties, including: the Telemundo flagship TV network, 30 local stations, Universo Cable Network, Telemundo Digital Enterprises, Telemundo Global Studios, Telemundo Deportes, Noticias Telemundo, Telemundo Films and several other video content and distribution properties.
While at Telemundo, Conde implemented a digital strategy to reach consumers through streaming services, social media, virtual reality and programming partnerships with BuzzFeed, Snapchat, Mashable, Tastemade and iHeartMedia. Under his leadership, Telemundo hit a milestone in 2016, surpassing Univision for the first time ever, and moving past FOX to become the nation's 4th most-watched network among adults 18-49 in primetime. In 2019, Telemundo continued its streak as the undisputed leader in Hispanic media and made history for a third consecutive year by closing the season as the number one Spanish-language network in the US in weekday primetime. A large part of this growth came from the SuperSeries™ format that was developed during Conde’s tenure. This format, which was championed by Conde and aimed to evolve the traditional telenovela, has also helped to redefine Hispanic media. Conde also oversaw the production of over 1000 hours of content for the network’s first-ever Spanish-language broadcast of the FIFA World Cup. Telemundo holds these rights through the year 2026. In 2018, Conde inaugurated the new global headquarters, Telemundo Center, which he drove forward from the project’s conceptual stage all the way to fruition. The company invested $250 million to build the facility, which sits on 21 acres and has 15 studios, including two digital studios, as well as virtual and augmented-reality sets.
Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Conde was at Univision for ten years, serving as president for five years. During this time he held a number of senior positions including Special Assistant to the CEO; interim president of Univision Interactive Media; vice president and operating manager of the Galavisión Network ; vice president of Corporate Development for the Univision Networks; and vice president of Sales and Business Development at the Univision Network. He has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Univision Communications Inc. then became the President of Univision Networks in October 2009.
Prior to this, he was appointed by President George W. Bush as one of twelve 2002-2003 White House Fellows. In that capacity, he served as the White House Fellow for then Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
Conde was vice president of business development at Univision Networks before becoming a White House Fellow. Before that, he was vice president of Business Development at StarMedia Network, the first Internet company focused on Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking audiences globally. His career began in investment banking at Salomon Smith Barney in their Mergers and Acquisitions Group.
Conde holds a B.A. with honors from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Early life
Cesar Conde was born in New York, NY and grew up in Miami, FL. His father, Cesar A. Conde, is an immigrant from Peru and his mother, Maria Conde, is a Cuban exile. He is the oldest of three brothers; his two brothers are Jorge Conde, currently a Senior Partner for Andreessen Horowitz and Enrique Conde, a partner at law firm Greenberg Traurig.Education initiatives
In 2005 he co-founded the Futuro Program, a non-profit organization that provides role models and educational workshops to Hispanic high school students.In 2009, Conde spearheaded the launch of Univision's "Es el Momento" campaign a comprehensive effort focused on informing the Hispanic community of the importance of education. The campaign received support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation among other sponsors and in March 2011, shortly after launching its second phase, a Town Hall event with President Barack Obama was organized and broadcast to over 2.7 million viewers around the country. The Futuro program became a part of the Es el momento campaign. On May 2011, President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Conde as a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and on September 2012, Conde was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Excellence in Education
Under Conde’s leadership, Telemundo Global Studios launched the TGS Fellowship Program, the first-ever premier professional development project for scripted content producers in Hispanic media. The first-of-its-kind program is dedicated to ushering the next generation of Spanish-language scripted producers and attract and develop the most talented early career producers, providing a comprehensive fast-paced scripted media immersion program that will create a dedicated pipeline of future producers at TGS. The unique fellowship is part of Telemundo Academy, the company's multimedia academic program designed to develop new talent pursuing careers in the media industry starting from the high school age.
Community initiatives
During his time at Univision, Conde led the company to enter into several partnerships that drove national community initiatives and empowerment campaigns. One of these campaign was “Ya es hora”, a historic non-partisan Latino civic participation campaign launched in several phases which encouraged eligible Hispanics to become US Citizens, register to vote and exercise their right to vote.With the goal of improving the quality of life of disabled children, Conde spearheaded the development of Univision's first ever Teletón USA event, a 28-hour coast-to-coast televised fundraising event that exceeded expectations by raising over 15 million dollars. All proceeds went to help families in the U.S. and toward the construction of the first “Centro de Rehabilitación Infantil Teletón” which will be based in San Antonio, Texas.
At Telemundo, Conde was the driving force behind the launch of "El Poder En Ti," a community platform focusing on three areas of importance to U.S. Hispanics: education, health, and finance. Telemundo’s commitment to empower the Hispanic community was reinforced in March of 2019 when “Hazte Contar,” or “Get Counted,” was added under the umbrella of “El Poder en Ti.” The campaign seeks to increase participation in the upcoming elections and 2020 Census, which will help improve quality of life through a fair distribution of federal funds.
Organizations
- Walmart Board of Directors
- PepsiCo Board of Directors
- Aspen Institute, Board of Trustees
- Council on Foreign Relations, Full Member
- The Paley Center for Media, Board of Trustees
- Aspen Institute, Henry Crown Fellow
Recognitions
- 2018 Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame honoree
- 2018 National Association of Television Programming Executives Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award
- 2017: Center for Communication Frank Stanton Award
- 2017: Sponsors for Educational Opportunity Alumni Award
- Cablefax Most Influential Minorities – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017, and 2018
- Cablefax 100 – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017, 2018, and 2019
- 2016: Award for Executive Leadership in Hispanic Television & Video from Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable.
- 2012: T. Howard Foundation Executive Leadership Award
- 2012:
- 2010 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame
- 2009, '10, '11, '12: "40 Under 40", Fortune Magazine
- 2009: Next Generation Leader Award, National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications
- 2008, '09, '10, '12: "Most influential Hispanics in the US", PODER Magazine
- 2007 Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever Award, Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility
- Young Leader Award, Cuban-American National Council
- U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation Award