Almost a year to the day that Univision promoted Tonia O’Connor to Chief Revenue Officer, the longtime network executive announced she is leaving the company.
She is “stepping down” from the position she has held since July 24, 2017.
O’Connor, who joined Univision in January 2008, is the second top-level Univision executive to announce their exit from the company in less than a week. Isaac Lee resigned on Tuesday, July 17, effective that day.
Although she announced her departure today, O’Connor will remain on board until July 31.
Her replacement is yet to be named.
According to Univision, O’Connor played a key role over the last 10 years in the company’s expansion from three networks to 17 broadcast, cable and digital networks, as well as developing distribution and content strategy for digital and mobile platforms.
During her tenure at Univision, she created new consumer products, established a content licensing business, built the company’s distribution revenue stream, launched direct-to-consumer live streaming and on demand subscription video service Univision NOW, and worked on the development of the Univision Creator Network.
She sent an email notifying staff she was “moving on to a new professional challenge,” highlighting accomplishments and personal growth during her 10 years with Univision:
“When I started at UCI in 2008, I was excited to take on a new challenge and pave the way for a new distribution business. What I did not fully appreciate back then is the tremendous impact that working with such a culturally rich and diverse team would have on me personally. You have inspired me to aggressively pursue our business objectives while always leading with purpose. Because of you, I leave UCI as a better version of myself than when I arrived ten years ago.”
Her full email is below.
From: Corporate Communications <corporatecommunications@univision.net>
Date: July 23, 2018 at 7:40:32 PM EDT
Subject: Message from Tonia O’Connor | Mensaje de Tonia O’Connor
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to share that after ten years at Univision, I have decided to step down as UCI’s Chief Revenue Officer, effective July 31st. While I’m thrilled to be moving on to a new professional challenge, I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together here at UCI.
For more than a decade, it has been an honor to represent Univision—and a privilege to work with all of the company’s outstanding and dynamic teams. Together, in the face of strong headwinds in the media industry at large, we’ve built a billion-dollar annual distribution revenue stream, launched new networks like Univision Deportes Network, and a new direct-to-consumer strategy. That’s something we should all be proud of.
But you all have played a much bigger role in my life than simply being co-workers and colleagues. When I started at UCI in 2008, I was excited to take on a new challenge and pave the way for a new distribution business. What I did not fully appreciate back then is the tremendous impact that working with such a culturally rich and diverse team would have on me personally. You have inspired me to aggressively pursue our business objectives while always leading with purpose. Because of you, I leave UCI as a better version of myself than when I arrived ten years ago.
What we do at UCI is much bigger than just media. We have been fearless in our efforts to receive fair value for our content and networks. We have been industry leaders in launching new services and out-performing the market. We have been uncompromising when it comes to representing our community and delivering on our company values.
For all of these reasons and many more, I believe UCI is uniquely positioned to continue the record of success we’ve seen since 2008. In the disruptive state of our industry, what matters most is that we continue to provide consumers with an experience they can’t get from any other media company. That’s why we have the most loyal audience in media today.
Thank you to everyone who has worked with me over the past ten years to grow and transform this company into the media powerhouse it is today. I will be forever grateful for your partnership and friendship.
Sincerely,
Tonia