MediaCo Elevates René Santaella To New Chief Growth & Innovation Post.

MediaCo has created a new executive position designed to accelerate growth across its television, audio, digital and streaming businesses, naming René Santaella as Chief Growth & Innovation Officer.

Santaella, who has served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer since October 2024, will now oversee what MediaCo calls its “Supply + Growth Engines” — the integrated chain responsible for turning content investment into broader distribution, stronger audience engagement and increased monetization across the company’s portfolio.

CEO Albert Rodriguez said the appointment reflects MediaCo’s effort to capitalize on recent gains. “MediaCo grew significantly in 2025 with record ratings and streaming viewership, revenue and reach,” he said. “We are the momentum in the market, so we are investing in the required leadership and resources to accelerate growth.”

In the newly created role, Santaella will oversee several areas central to the company’s expansion strategy, including content portfolio development and programming strategy, distribution partnerships, product development and audience engagement initiatives, and the use of data analytics to inform decision-making. The position also includes responsibility for technology innovation, artificial intelligence initiatives and workflow modernization, along with expanding inventory and revenue opportunities.

Santaella said the position is designed to align MediaCo’s platforms around consumer behavior in an increasingly multiplatform media environment.

“In today’s media landscape, growth comes from aligning the entire chain around consumers and a multiplatform world on every screen and every device,” he said. “I’m excited to be hyper focused on growth and innovation by optimizing the value of our content portfolio, expanding distribution and inventory, improving engagement, and advancing the technology and workflows that power our platforms.”

Chief Revenue Officer Brian Fisher said the new role will also help translate audience growth into additional advertising opportunities.

“René’s leadership will accelerate how we scale distribution, inventory and monetization across our platforms,” Fisher said. “As MediaCo’s audience continues to grow across TV, audio, digital and streaming — and with digital surging — this role helps turn that momentum into even greater value for advertisers and partners.”

As COO, Santaella has led multiplatform strategy, growth and distribution across the company’s brands, which include EstrellaTV, “Hot 97” WQHT in New York “Que Buena 105.5/94.3” KBUA/KEBN in Los Angeles, and “Que Buena 96.1” KRQB Riverside-San Bernardino, among others. His responsibilities have also included overseeing streaming video, network and local television, audio and social content operations.

MediaCo said Santaella has played a key role in expanding its sports content partnerships, including agreements tied to Liga MX and Combate Global, as well as efforts to transform radio and news programming into live, interactive video content distributed across multiple platforms.

Before joining MediaCo, Santaella served as Chief Digital and Streaming Officer at Estrella Media, where he led the development and expansion of the company’s digital and streaming operations. His previous experience also includes senior roles at Sony Pictures Television and The Walt Disney Company, where he focused on digital strategy, streaming operations and advertising monetization.