Armando Javier Martinez Benitez Bridges Gaps at TelevisaUnivision

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Mexico-based media corporation Grupo Televisa and US Spanish-language broadcaster Univision closed a $4.8 billion content merger in 2022 to create TelevisaUnivision. Today, it is the world’s leading Spanish-language media company, reaching over six hundred million Spanish speakers globally.

Armando Javier Martinez Benitez, a legal executive who worked for Grupo Televisa for over twenty years, was one of the main leaders who helped close the deal and integrate the two media giants—a highlight of his career. Now, he serves as executive vice president, deputy general counsel, and head of global content in the legal, policy, and integrity department. He is committed to fostering growth and bridging gaps for a Spanish-speaking audience that spans across the US, Mexico, and beyond.

“I was always close to Grupo Televisa’s investment in Univision and was excited to be a part of the challenging task to bring together two icons that have valuable assets, rich and diverse corporate cultures, and a strong workforce,” Martinez Benitez shares. “Our work has enabled us to reach every corner of the world where our language is spoken. We’re delivering news and entertainment to our audiences that’s in their own language, and we’re continuing to be a bridge between the Hispanics in the US, Mexico, and countries around the world with their cultures and their origins.”

“You need to be an ambassador of the kind of culture you’re hoping to create. Having that as a top priority has been key for delivering that message to my team.”

Armando Javier Martinez Benitez

Martinez Benitez is responsible for a team of more than sixty lawyers in Mexico and the US who help the business navigate complex legal systems and issues on both sides of the border. Since 2022, he has focused on not only uniting legal in both countries but also designing his teams to be as efficient as possible. Reviewing processes and policies have been a large part of that work. As a result, those steps and others have allowed legal to become a better partner to the business.

“As lawyers, we want to make sure that we are business enablers, a trusted partner that is focused on fostering growth and value to each of our business divisions,” Martinez Benitez says. “We’ve worked closely with business units and partners to make sure they can operate efficiently in each jurisdiction we have a presence. Building a team of lawyers that is capable of helping them navigate through the legal systems and complex regulatory frameworks of the jurisdictions where we have most of our operations has been instrumental.”

When it comes to leadership, Martinez Benitez has set the tone for his team. How? By being a good listener in order to understand the needs and values of his employees and to leverage their insights for improvement.

“You need to be an ambassador of the kind of culture you’re hoping to create. Having that as a top priority has been key for delivering that message to my team,” he says.

Leading legal teams for a company that operates in the two major markets for Spanish-speaking audiences is an opportunity Martinez Benitez doesn’t take for granted. Latino consumers in the US alone are the fifth largest economy in the world, according to Latino Donor Collaborative. Furthermore, free trade agreement and multilateral relationships between the US and Mexico are fostering high viewership and accessibility.

Right now, Mexico is the biggest trade partner for the US. So, it couldn’t be a better time for Martinez Benitez and his colleagues to push their reach worldwide.

“Language has evolved in such a way where Spanish is spoken around the world,” he adds. “I’m looking forward to helping the company grant more access to Hispanics and Spanish speakers worldwide, so they have access to news and other content in their own language and from their own communities.”

Martinez Benitez was raised in a small city in northern Mexico, roughly three hours from the US border. His parents passed away at a young age, so he moved in with his grandparents, who supported and guided him as he grew up. His relatives showed up for him, including two of his uncles who were lawyers. Their careers, paired with the environments Martinez Benitez grew up in, planted a seed.

“Mexico was a lot different back then. There were a lot of inequities, many searched for better opportunities in the United States,” he reflects. “Seeing that and going through that inspired me and fed my interests to not only have a law career, but to bring change and be a transformational person. I went on, searched for scholarships and funding, and left to the United States convinced that I needed to be prepared to make a difference.”

After getting his law and master’s degrees from Universidad de Monterrey in Mexico, Boston University in Massachusetts, and Columbia Law School in New York, Martinez Benitez went on to actualize his legal career. Starting out as an associate at the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in New York, he worked on domestic and international transactions in the corporate finance field. As general counsel and deputy general counsel for several of Grupo Televisa’s subsidiaries, he built legal departments from scratch, setting up programs to help lawyers advance their education and succeed in their roles.

In the end, Martinez Benitez believes that success is a byproduct of preparation.

His advice for young people wanting to succeed? “Get prepared,” he says. “Be open to learn from others. Be open to understand and evolve. Be curious. Understand the purpose and objectives of an organization and look into the opportunities that open up to you. Always be on a path of continuous learning and growth, and equally important: enjoy every part of your journey.”

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