Luis Villanueva

Luis Villanueva is an American-Venezuelan media entrepreneur, who has worked in international banking, finance and entertainment industries. Villanueva, an economist with an MBA degree, is presently the Chairman and CEO of SOMOS GROUP, a Miami-based entertainment group of companies formed by SOMOSTV (a pay-tv production and distribution company), SOMOS Distribution (a global content distribution entity), SOMOS Production (an independent TV production (an independent TV production enterprise), SOMOS Next (a direct to consumer digital content distribution company) and SOMOS Films (in charge of feature films’ production).

Mr. Villanueva has been a recipient of two prestigious honors from the Venezuelan government: the Order of Diego de Losada in its First Class (awarded for outstanding merit in the areas of work, urban development, culture and science, contributing to the progress of the country) and the Order of Francisco de Miranda in its Second Class (recognizing Venezuelan citizens and foreigners who have contributed to the sciences, progress of the country, to the humanities or who have exemplified outstanding merits). In March of 2002 Mr. Villanueva was honored with the keys to the city of Miami, a merit given by the Miami-Dade County in Florida, for his leadership role in Venevision International’s contribution to the arts and culture of the local community. Luis Villanueva sat on the Directory of several international companies registered on different stock exchanges, among them Claxson (XSON), Cervecerias Peruanas Backus & Johnston and was a member of the Board of the Latin Recording Academy (Latin Grammy’s).