TelevisaUnivision Swaps Ad-Sales Chief Ahead of 2026 Upfront

TelevisaUnivision announced Monday that John Kozack, a two-decade veteran, will replace Tim Naividad as head of ad sales. Naividad, who took the role in June 2025 after stints at Roku and Amazon, leaves weeks before the industry’s annual “upfront” where networks sell most of their commercial inventory.

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The Spanish-language media group, formed after Wade Davis’s 2020 Univision buyout and the 2022 merger with Grupo Televisa, has been reshaping its balance sheet under CEO Daniel Alegre, who succeeded Davis in 2024. Fourth-quarter advertising revenue was $856 million, flat year-over-year, while U.S. ad sales fell 11 % to $423 million, highlighting continued reliance on linear TV.

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• John Kozack – Internal ad-sales leader, previously managed client-agency relationships and sports-portfolio sales.

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• Tim Naividad – Former ad-sales chief with digital experience at Roku and Amazon.

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• Daniel Alegre – CEO since 2024, former senior executive at Activision Blizzard.

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• Donna Speciale – Long-time ad-sales executive who exited in June 2024 after contract talks stalled.

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• 2020 – Wade Davis completes Univision buyout.

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• 2022 – Merger creates TelevisaUnivision.

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• 2024 – Daniel Alegre becomes CEO; Donna Speciale departs.

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• June 2025 – Tim Naividad appointed ad-sales chief.

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• Early 2026 – John Kozack named new ad-sales chief.

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Kozack’s appointment is intended to reassure advertisers ahead of the 2026 upfront, where securing sales commitments is critical. His deep familiarity with the U.S. Hispanic market and a proven growth record are positioned as assets to stabilize revenue and advance digital diversification.

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CEO Daniel Alegre praised Naividad’s role in the company’s commercial transformation and noted that Kozack brings a deep grasp of the business, a strong focus on the U.S. Hispanic audience, and a history of delivering growth, framing the transition as a strategic continuation rather than a disruption.

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Industry observers note that rapid leadership turnover creates “difficult optics” for advertisers preparing for the upfront, especially after Speciale’s abrupt exit in 2024.

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The sources provide consistent revenue figures and no contradictory statements regarding the leadership change.

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• “Over the last year, Tim has been involved in a significant transformation in our commercial strategy, particularly as we shore up our partner engagement, digital strengths and diversify our content to new formats and platforms,” — Daniel Alegre, CEO

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• “We are grateful for Tim’s leadership throughout his tenure and for the talent he has brought into the company.” — Daniel Alegre, CEO

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• “deep understanding of our business, passion for the U.S. Hispanic market, and proven track record of driving growth.” — Daniel Alegre, CEO

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• “He was responsible for creating the first presenting sponsorship of the Rose Bowl on behalf of AT&T.” — Company profile of John Kozack

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TelevisaUnivision will unveil its 2026 programming slate at the upcoming upfront, with Kozack leading negotiations. Stakeholders will watch whether the leadership shift translates into stable or growing ad revenue.

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