MediaCo Leadership Shift
MediaCo Promotes Brian Fisher to President; Roberto Castro Named Interim CFO as DeFelice Departs
Anonymous
Key Points
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Brian Fisher was promoted from Chief Revenue Officer to President, effective July 20; he had been CRO since August 2025 and previously led sales at Estrella Media, including roles such as Senior Vice President of Video Sales, Senior Vice President of Multimedia Sales, and Vice President of OTT/CTV Sales.
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Debra DeFelice departed from MediaCo, no longer serving as CFO, Treasurer or Executive Vice President; she had been elevated to EVP in November and signed a multiyear contract extension the following month, with no reason given for her departure.
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Roberto Castro was named interim Chief Financial Officer and interim Treasurer; he joined MediaCo in April as Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller and brings nearly 24 years of experience from Spanish Broadcasting System, where he rose to Vice President of Finance in 2015, along with prior roles at DirecTV Latin America and as an auditor at Coopers & Lybrand.
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The leadership changes were disclosed in the same SEC filing as DeFelice’s departure, and the company indicated there is no timetable yet for naming a permanent Chief Financial Officer.
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MediaCo’s portfolio remains centered on multicultural brands, including HOT 97, WBLS, EstrellaTV, Estrella News, Que Buena Los Angeles, and the Don Cheto Radio Network, reaching more than 20 million people monthly across TV, radio, digital, and streaming platforms.
MediaCo Holding has promoted Brian Fisher from Chief Revenue Officer to President, effective July 20, while also naming Roberto Castro as interim Chief Financial Officer — all as the company parts ways with its outgoing finance chief The Desk.
The moves reshape the top of the Nasdaq-listed multicultural media company, which owns HOT 97, WBLS, EstrellaTV, and the Don Cheto Radio Network. Together, those brands reach more than 20 million people each month across TV, radio, digital, and streaming MediaNet News Hub.
Fisher Steps Up as Day-to-Day Operations Lead
Fisher will take charge of daily operations as President. CEO Albert Rodriguez stays in place but shifts focus to long-term strategy RadioInsight. The two roles are now clearly split: Fisher runs the business day to day, Rodriguez sets the direction.
Fisher joined MediaCo as CRO in August 2025, coming from Estrella Media where he held roles including Senior Vice President of Video Sales, Senior Vice President of Multimedia Sales, and Vice President of OTT/CTV Sales RBR. He said he is eager to "execute the strategy and create long-term value for audiences, partners, and shareholders" MediaNet News Hub.
CFO Debra DeFelice Departs With No Explanation Given
Debra DeFelice is out as CFO, Treasurer, and Executive Vice President. MediaCo gave no reason for her exit The Desk. The timing is striking: she was elevated to EVP in November and signed a multiyear contract extension just one month later.
Her departure was disclosed in the same SEC filing that announced Fisher's promotion and Castro's appointment Benzinga. The company said it has no timetable yet for naming a permanent CFO.
Castro Brings Nearly 24 Years of Finance Experience
Roberto Castro steps into the interim CFO and interim Treasurer roles. He joined MediaCo just this past April as Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller MediaNet News Hub. Before that, he spent nearly 24 years at Spanish Broadcasting System, rising to Vice President of Finance in 2015.
Castro also brings experience from DirecTV Latin America and started his career as an auditor at Coopers & Lybrand The Desk. His background in multicultural media finance makes him a natural fit for the interim role while MediaCo conducts its search.
MediaCo's Multicultural Portfolio Drives the Growth Push
MediaCo's brands target Latino and urban audiences across the US. Its lineup includes HOT 97 and WBLS in New York, EstrellaTV, Estrella News, Que Buena Los Angeles, and the Don Cheto Radio Network MediaNet News Hub. The company says these platforms collectively reach over 20 million people every month.
The leadership shakeup is framed as a move to sharpen operational execution and fuel long-term growth RadioInsight. With a new President running daily operations and a permanent CFO search underway, MediaCo is signaling that its next chapter needs a stronger management bench.
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