Cesar Conde
César Conde is an American media executive serving as Chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group since May 2020, with oversight of NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC News NOW, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, and NBCUniversal Local, reaching approximately seven in ten American adults monthly across platforms.[1] Previously, Conde chaired NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, where he repositioned Telemundo as the leading Spanish-language network in primetime among key demographics, and served as Chairman of NBCUniversal's International Group after joining the company in 2013 as Executive Vice President of International and Digital Enterprises.[1] His earlier career included presidency of Univision Networks and a White House Fellowship under Secretary Colin Powell.[1] Under his leadership, NBC News has become the top digital news organization, and NBC News NOW has achieved record viewership as the fastest-growing U.S. streaming news network.[1] Conde holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.[1] He serves on the boards of directors for Walmart and PepsiCo, positions that have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest in news coverage, though NBCUniversal states he recuses himself from related reporting.[2][1] In March 2024, Conde approved the hiring of former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor to provide Republican perspectives, but reversed the decision days later amid internal staff backlash over her prior statements questioning the 2020 U.S. presidential election results.[3][4]Early Life and Education
Childhood and Upbringing
Cesar Conde was born in New York City to Cesar A. Conde, a cardiologist originally from Peru, and María Conde, who emigrated from Cuba.[5][6][7] The family soon relocated to Miami, Florida, where Conde grew up as the eldest of three brothers amid the city's large Hispanic immigrant community, particularly its Cuban exile population.[4][5][8] His parents, both professionals with medical backgrounds—his father in cardiology and his mother serving as an assistant professor at the University of Miami—emphasized education, discipline, and achievement as hallmarks of immigrant success, drawing from their own experiences fleeing political instability in Latin America.[6][9] This upbringing in a bilingual household exposed Conde to Spanish-language media and cultural narratives of resilience, fostering an early appreciation for communication across diverse audiences.[4][10] He attended the prestigious all-male Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, a Catholic institution known for rigorous academics, where he ranked among the top students in his class.[6][11]Academic Background
Cesar Conde attended Belén Jesuit Preparatory School, a selective all-boys Catholic institution in Miami, Florida, where he completed his secondary education.[6] This rigorous preparatory environment, known for emphasizing Jesuit principles of intellectual and moral formation, laid an early foundation in disciplined scholarship. Conde pursued undergraduate studies at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1995, graduating cum laude.[7] [9] During his time there, he served as president and co-founder of the Cuban-American Student Association, demonstrating leadership in fostering cultural and academic networks among Hispanic students.[9] His honors designation reflects strong academic performance in a competitive program, prioritizing analytical skills in historical causation and evidence-based inquiry—attributes later evident in his media strategy roles.[12] Following Harvard, Conde obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1999.[4] This graduate training in business principles, including strategic management and financial analysis, equipped him with executive-level competencies tailored to media industry challenges, such as market expansion and organizational leadership.[12] No additional formal academic certifications or distinctions beyond these degrees are documented in primary professional profiles.[13]Professional Career
Early Roles in Media
Cesar Conde entered the media industry after working as an investment banker at Salomon Smith Barney in mergers and acquisitions. He subsequently joined StarMedia Network, a leading Latin American internet portal, prior to serving as a White House Fellow under Secretary of State Colin Powell from 2002 to 2003.[14][15][16] In 2003, Conde joined Univision Communications, initially serving in senior executive roles focused on business development and strategy. He progressed to vice president of business development before his White House fellowship and returned to Univision afterward, advancing through executive ranks in operations and programming. By the mid-2000s, he contributed to content strategies tailored to Hispanic audiences, emphasizing digital integration and multimedia expansion.[17][18][6] Conde's efforts at Univision included developing programming that drove audience engagement among key demographics. Under his involvement in early executive capacities, the network's primetime viewership among adults 18-49 increased by 40%, reflecting successful targeting of Hispanic viewers through culturally resonant content. He was promoted to executive vice president and chief strategy officer, overseeing initiatives that positioned Univision as a multimedia leader before assuming the presidency of Univision Networks in 2009.[18][6][16] In 2013, Conde transitioned to NBCUniversal as executive vice president, responsible for international operations and digital enterprises, marking a shift amid growing consolidation in the media sector. This move followed a decade at Univision, where his foundational roles laid the groundwork for later leadership in Hispanic media.[1][18][19]