The Hollywood Reporter has named Fordham trustee Armando Nuñez, GSB ’82, one of the top 25 Latinos in entertainment.
The magazine ranked him at No. 7 on the list and quoted his boss, CBS Corporation president and CEO Leslie Moonves, who called Nuñez “pound for pound, one of the best executives in town.”
As president and CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group—a position created for him in 2012—Nuñez is CBS’ top international executive. He oversees all of CBS Corporation’s international and domestic distribution operations. He also heads the creating and licensing of international formats, such as America’s Next Top Model, directs 13 offices worldwide, and manages the company’s international channel assets.
“[I]t’s an honor to be in the company of such successful and distinguished Latinos,” said Nuñez, “but more importantly, hopefully these type of listings serve as motivation and inspiration for young Latinos who want to work in media, either behind or in front of the camera.”
Young Latinos will find encouragement for both on the diverse list. Megastar Jennifer Lopez came in at No. 3, Gravity director Alfonso Cuarón took the No. 4 spot, and multiplatinum-selling singers Shakira and Pitbull both made the cut. Topping the list was the chairman of CBS Entertainment, Nina Tassler.
The Hollywood Reporter said the entertainment powerhouses appear on the list because of their “ability to impact the culture,” and predicted that if “demographic trends continue, in three or four decades, THR will be printing a list of the 25 most powerful Anglos in entertainment … and it’ll be written in Spanish.”
A New York native, Nuñez has lived in Los Angeles for years. In January, he hosted a Fordham event honoring legendary sportscaster Vin Scully, FCRH ’49, on the set of Entertainment Tonight. “Despite our geographic location,” Nuñez told an audience of nearly 200 Fordham alumni, friends, and prospective students, “it’s always great to see that our common bonds and passion for Fordham bring us all together.”
He admits that leaving New York separated him a bit from his Fordham roots at first. “It was [Fordham President] Father McShane’s passion, enthusiasm, and leadership that reconnected me with Fordham,” said Nuñez, who joined the University’s Board of Trustees in 2012. “I’ve always been incredibly proud and grateful for my Fordham and Jesuit education, and as my [13-year-old] son now embarks on his educational path, I have a new perspective on how fortunate I was to have the Fordham educational experience.”
