Mereulo Media President/CEO Otto Padron will step down from his position at the end of the month with current SVP/Finance and Operations Tomas Trujillo rising to succeed him.
Padron has led Meruelo since 2012 growing the then KWHY-TV only operator into a full radio cluster in Los Angeles with the acquisitions of 93.5 KDAY/KDEY from Magic Broadcasting, 93.9 KLLI from Grupo Radio Centro, 95.5 KLOS from Cumulus, and 105.9 KPWR from Emmis. Prior to joining the company he spent fifteen years as SVP/Programming & Promotions for Univision’s television network from 1995-2010 after a previous run as Director of Programming for Telemundo. Padron intends to launch a new media strategies company called ACTIFY.
Trujillo joined Meruelo Media in 2014 as Vice President of Operations before moving into his role as SVP in September 2020. Prior to moving to the media division, Trujillo was an analyst for Meruelo Capital Partners and Assistant Vice President of two banks.
Padron shared the following memo with staffers:
To the Meruelo Media Village,
As I prepare to close this chapter and step down as your President and CEO at the end of this month, I am filled with mixed emotions. It’s time to pass the torch to Tomas, who I am confident will continue to lead with the same intensity and passion that he has always shown.
Nearly 14 years ago, we embarked on a mission to become the premier minority-owned media company in the US. I have poured my name, soul, skill, and reputation into making that dream a reality. Together, we’ve grown every facet of our company, transforming our operations in one of the toughest media markets in the US, and turning our initial single-station setup into a powerful conglomerate of top TV and Radio brands. This includes not only KWHY-TV and KDAY but also POWER, KLOS, CALI-FM, and others. Today, we stand as the largest and fastest-growing minority-owned and veteran-operated media company in California. I am proud of what we’ve achieved and grateful to have been your leader. Be proud of yourselves as well.
I’m excited for the next phase of my life, where I will launch a Media Strategies company named ACTIFY. This new chapter will keep me connected with many of you and involved in innovative media projects.
Thank you to our exceptional team and on-air talent for making this company a home. I’m also grateful to Alex and Luis for their support as I transition into this new stage of my career.
I look forward to celebrating our accomplishments together in the coming days. Here’s to health, success, and bright futures for all as you continue your journey with Meruelo.”