As part of its restructuring, WarnerMedia Latin America announced that Javier Figueras, corporate VP of Affiliate Relations for HBO Latin America, will leave the company this Friday, February 19.

WarnerMedia Latin America continues with its transformation process as the result of the integration of Turner and HBO in the region. After revealing its new leadership structure, the media giant’s Latin American division also announced the departure of Javier Figueras.

This Friday, February 19, will be his last day as Corporate VP of Affiliate Relations for HBO Latin America.

The news follows other important recent departures from HBO Latin America, such as those of Luis Peraza and Roberto Rios, and that of Emilio Rubio.

Figueras joined HBO in 1993 and played a pivotal role helping develop the then nascent pay TV industry. He was responsible for expanding the company’s distribution in Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing to the launch of HBO Latin America’s first basic pay TV channels for the Southern Cone.

In 1996, he moved from Caracas to Buenos Aires in the position of general manager and regional VP of the Southern Cone, where he was in charge of the supervision of operations and strategies, including the launch of more than ten pay TV channels, HD channels, and HBO’s first SVOD service in Latin America.

In 2014 Figueras assumed the role of corporate VP, and since then he has led the implementation of launch strategies for linear pay TV channels, HBO GO, HBO On Demand, in addition to leading the fight against piracy through collaboration with Alianza (Against Pay TV Piracy).

“Javier is an industry pioneer, who for more than 25 years helped drive the growth of premium television in the region. We are deeply grateful for his leadership in elevating our brands throughout Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Jorge Carey, Regional Director of Distribution for WarnerMedia Latin America.

“I am very proud to have been part of this journey with HBO, and I thank so many colleagues and employees, as well as the clients that I have had the pleasure to serve,” said Javier Figueras.

“It is an honor to have been part of so many milestones for HBO, from bringing clients our first local original production in Latin America, to the launch of HBO’s first streaming offering. Each of those milestones helped position our company and our brand as favorites in the region,” he concluded.

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WarnerMedia Latin America announced Rios is leaving his role as Corporate VP of Original Production at the network, while Peraza will step down as President of Networks.

WarnerMedia Latin America has announced today that Roberto Rios, Corporate Vice President of Original Production for HBO Latin America, will be leaving the company effective February 20, 2021.

In addition, the group announced Luis F. Peraza, President of Networks for HBO Latin America, will be leaving the company effective February 28, 2021.

Rios joined HBO in 1994 as a programming executive and the first employee in Brazil, where he helped launch the company locally. He later assumed the role of Vice President of Acquisitions and Programming, and went on to become head of Original Production for the brand in the region. Over the past 27 years, he managed and participated in the acquisition of broadcasting rights for thousands of films and programs, as well as in the production of over 800 hours of local original content that aired via the HBO and Cinemax signals throughout Latin America and the rest of the world.

Rios became one of the pioneers of premium content production in Latin America, recognizing the need for innovative programming with stories that appeal to local audiences, reflecting the regional characteristics through the recognized quality of HBO’s original productions. Since then, HBO Latin America’s Original Productions have received over 110 awards, including an International Emmy®, as well as many nominations.

Rios led the development and production of several HBO Latin America originals, including groundbreaking series, documentaries, and specials, such as the awarded productions Epitafios, Capadocia, Mandrake, Prófugos, The Hypnotist, The Bronze Garden, Psy, Santos Dumont, The Business, Magnífica 70, Joint Venture, Greg News With Gregório Duvivier, Refavela 40, Babel Sp, Clubversão Latino, and the International Emmy® winner Sr. Ávila.

Tomás Yankelevich, Chief Content Officer, GE, WarnerMedia Latin America, said: “Beto has helped HBO achieve many firsts in our region, and his contributions to the industry are memorable. He has laid the groundwork for our company to continue to build upon and we want to recognize his passion and commitment to the regional production in Latin America. We wish him all the best in his next phase and hope we can continue to collaborate together in future projects.”

“By providing the space where creative minds could show fresh ideas, develop new formats, and take creative risks to build stories that connect to the audience in the region, I wanted to create an environment where quality and creative freedom served as a magnet for talent, attracting some of the best actors, screenwriters, directors and production companies to partner with us,” said Roberto Rios. “I feel very fortunate to have helped HBO make a difference in the Latin American industry, and will treasure these stories forever.”

Peraza is part of the founding team that launched HBO in Latin America in 1991 and is a pioneer of the audiovisual industry in the region, having been responsible for the development of the first premium local content in the market, investing in original programming and discovering new talent. Since then, Peraza was responsible for the production of more original content than any other premium entertainment subscription-based service in the region, with early productions such as EPITAFIOS and MANDRAKE, award-winning series such as the International Emmy® award recipient SR. ÁVILA, International Emmy®-nominated titles such as SONS OF CARNIVAL, CAPADOCIA, PRÓFUGOS, PSY, THE BRONZE GARDEN, and hundreds of hours of series, movies, documentaries and animation specials that were broadcast in Latin America and the rest of the world.

In 2014, Peraza assumed the role of President of Networks for HBO Latin America and was responsible for overseeing Original Productions, Content Acquisitions, Programming and On-Air, Creative Services, Consumer Marketing and Research, and Communications for all owned and operated networks of the group.

Whit Richardson, President, WarnerMedia Latin America, said: “Luis is an industry giant who helped shape the Latin American media business. We are deeply thankful for his leadership and his vision to bring HBO to the highest levels of recognition in our region.”

“As a member of the founding team of HBO in Latin America, I am very proud to have helped launch the service 30 years ago and shaped it to its current state. This has been such a great journey, and I am thankful to so many talented co-workers and colleagues who have joined in this enterprise”, says Luis Peraza. “I wish them the very best in continuing to position our company and our brand as a favorite in the region.”

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WarnerMedia announced Emilio Rubio, CEO of HBO Latin America, will leave the company as of February 28, 2021.

WarnerMedia officially announced that Emilio Rubio, CEO of HBO Latin America, will leave the company on February 28, 2021.

From that day on and for a limited time, he will continue in the role of advisor.

“With the loyalty and commitment of more than two decades of service to HBO Latin America and WarnerMedia, it is difficult to do justice to the importance of Emilio’s contribution. He has been a pioneer in the media industry throughout the region, taking risks, innovating and investing in new technologies and original productions. We would not be in such a strong position today without his strategic vision and focus on teamwork and excellence. Thank you for everything Emilio and best wishes for your future,” said Gerhard Zeiler, Head of WarnerMedia International.

Emilio Rubio added: “It’s time to go. It has been a privilege all these years to be associated with some of the most iconic brands and professionals in the industry. It has been an incredible journey bringing our exceptional content to Latin America, powered by digital platforms. I am particularly proud of how we have been able to raise the profile of the brand and original productions. I would like to express my gratitude to the team, the Board of Directors of HBO Latin America and wish WarnerMedia every success in their future endeavors.”

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The series will air in Japan beginning in March 2020 as part of their Latin America showcase.

HBO Latin America announced that its Mexican International Emmy award- winning production SR. ÁVILA and its Brazilian phenomenon The Business (O Negócio) were acquired by Hulu Japan for the Japanese audience. This is the first time that Hulu Japan acquires Latin American series for their catalog.

“This will be our 17th year in delivering a wide mix of high-quality original productions in Latin America and our strategy has remained the same – to deliver the best stories, from unique and fresh perspectives, with the seal of quality that HBO carries and reflects originality, relevance, and unique talent” said Xavier Aristimuño, VP of Licensing for HBO Latin America.

“The award-winning productions SR. ÁVILA from Mexico and O NEGÓCIO from Brazil are stories that have captivated audiences not only in the region, but also throughout the whole world.”

“We are thrilled to introduce our first acquisitions of Latin American drama series to the audience in Japan. We have been introducing unique and outstanding shows from around the world which Japanese audience would not had a chance to watch if it were without Hulu Japan,” said Kazufumi Nagasawa, Chief Content Officer for Hulu Japan.

Hulu Japan emphasizes to the Japanese audience that Latin American shows have garnered international success beyond their already famous telenovelas. Hulu Japan will be launching the titles from March to June 2020 consecutively each month, highlighting each title as part of their “Latin America Showcase”.

In Sr Avila, Roberto Ávila is a middle-class life-insurance salesman, doting husband and father. He is also a cunning hit man. When he decides to head an organization of contract killers, the thin veil between his ordinary and hidden lives wears quickly. In this seedy underworld of hired crime, every entanglement falls into the hands of Sr. Ávila–who must decide who stays and who goes.

O Negocio follows the lives of Karin, Luna, Magali and Mia, high-class call girls who stand out in the market. They have put in practice various marketing strategies that they have learned and, with this, not only conquered space in the market but also created the successful business empire “Oceano Azul”.

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HBO Latin America presented a first look at its new Brazilian original series, which delves into LGBTQIA themes and will wrap up filming this month.

HBO’s new original Brazilian series, TODXS NÓS (official English title TBC), just released its first image.

In it, actress Clara Gallo appears as the protagonist, Rafa, an 18-year-old, non-binary pansexual, who decides to leave their life and family to move to São Paulo.

Created by Vera Egito, Heitor Dhalia and Daniel Ribeiro, the series will have eight 30-minute episodes where LGBTQIA themes will be addressed, while also presenting issues such as racism and harassment.

In addition to Clara Gallo, the cast also includes Kelner Macêdo as Vini, Juliana Gerais as Maia and Gilda Nomacce as Inés, Vini’s mother.

The filming of the series will wrap up this month in São Paulo.

TODXS NÓS was produced entirely with HBO Latin America’s own investments.

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