Ex-BBCWW Lat Am chief joins Lantica

Former BBC Worldwide Latin America chief Fred Medina has joined Caribbean entertainment company Lantica Media.

Medina (pictured) will become the TV and film production firm’s first COO, with board member Joaquin Blaya named executive chairman.

Both execs have played significant roles in Spanish-language US media, with Medina most recently managing director and executive VP, BBCWW US Hispanic and Latin America.

Blaya has worked at key networks Telemundo and Univision and, more recently, has repositioned Lantica’s business model to give it a a more international focus.

Medina resigned from the BBC’s commercial arm in April 2015 and was later replaced by Anna Gordon.

“As the company enters a new chapter, Joaquin and Fred’s phenomenal track record of success and experience in the international media industry will play a major role to further expand the company’s capabilities, and – together with the team that has made it happen thus far – bolster growth,” said Felipe Vicini, board member of Lantica and managing partner of its co-owner Inicia.

Besides BBCWW, Medina has worked at MTV Latino, HBO Latin American Group, E! Entertainment, A&E Olé Networks and Univision.

Lantica produces and finances television and films through its Lantica Pictures, and also owns major Caribbean facility Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, which the UK’s Pinewood Studios Group operates.

Medina’s newly created role will see managing day-to-day operations at the studio and production services, and supporting business strategy and financial objectives.

He will report to Blaya and is relocating from Miami to the Dominican Republic, where Lantica Media is based.