Otto Padrón announced he is stepping down as President and CEO of Meruelo Media at the end of February.
In an internal email obtained by Media Moves, he also revealed that Tomás Trujillo, currently SVP of Finance and Operations, will succeed him in the role.
Padrón has been at the helm of Meruelo Media since 2012.
During his tenure, Padrón oversaw several significant milestones, including KWHY’s participation in the FCC spectrum auction, which generated $123.5 million for the company.
He also spearheaded Meruelo Media’s expansion efforts, which involved multimillion-dollar investments in building its own studios and acquiring prominent radio stations: KDAY 93.5 FM in 2014, KPWR Power 106 FM in 2017, and both 95.5 KLOS and 93.9 KXOS in 2019.
“It’s been an incredible journey, one that now continues with new scenery and fresh opportunities ahead,” he tells Media Moves.
As part of his departure announcement, Padrón shared plans to launch ACTIFY, a media strategy company that will provide a broad range of services, including marketing, content development, and distribution strategy.
A retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, he shared that he had carefully considered his decision to move on, saying he felt this was the right time to venture out on his own.
Below is his email to staff:
My Meruelo Media Village,
It is with a heart full of mixed emotions, I share my decision to turn the page and step down as President and CEO of Meruelo Media at the end of this month. I will pass the company torch to Tomas, whom I am confident will continue to light the way with the same bright intensity and passion he has always displayed.
Almost 14 years ago, we set out to make our organization the premier minority-owned media company in the US. I’m proud to have dedicated my name, soul, skill, and reputation to turn that vision into reality. Through hard work, trust, and accountability, we grew every aspect of our organization, reshaping our beloved village, pivoting purposefully, and creating a long-term strategic plan for success. Our well-crafted path, executed with precision in one of the most competitive media markets in the US, transformed our single-station operation into a dynamic cluster of iconic TV and Radio brands. We became California’s largest and fastest-growing minority-owned and veteran-operated media company. From KWHY-TV to KDAY, from POWER to KLOS to CALI-FM and so much more in between, it’s been a career-defining journey. This organization is stronger today than it was when I took over, and I am humbled to have been the catalyst of our team. Be proud of what you’ve done!
My next chapter brings with it excitement and new challenges. As many of you know, I’ve been working on launching a Media Strategies company called ACTIFY. This new venture will allow me to stay connected with many of you while exploring innovative projects in the media space I’m so passionate about.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our incredible team and talented on-air crews for making our company feel like a home. My sincere gratitude to Alex and Luis for their unwavering support as I step into this new phase of my career.
I wish you all health, success, and endless blue skies on your continued Meruelo journey! If you see me in the halls or studios in the coming days, let’s take a moment to celebrate the great village we’ve built together!
Cheers to the future, and new horizons!
OP
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