Randel A. Falco (born December 26, 1953) is an American media executive. Falco was president and CEO of Univision Communications Inc. from June 2011 until retiring in June 2018.^[1] Before joining Univision in January 2011 as executive vice president and COO, he served as chairman of the board and CEO of AOL from November 2006 to March 2009. Prior to his tenure at AOL, he spent 31 years at NBC, including serving as the network's president and COO.^[2]

This biographical article is written like a résumé. (August 2022)

As Univision CEO, Falco undertook a number of advocacy initiatives on behalf of U.S. Hispanics. In August 2012, noting that “more than 20 million Hispanics could play a critical role in electing the new President of the United States,” Falco called upon the Commission on Presidential Debates to add an additional debate “that will speak directly to this burgeoning audience so influential to the presidential dialogue and outcome.” ^[57] When the commission rejected Falco's idea, Univision staged its own candidate forums with President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney.

In June 2016, after then-candidate Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about Hispanics in a campaign speech, Falco canceled Univision's agreement to televise the Trump-owned Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants. According to Hollywood Reporter, “As the mainstream media is struggling with how to cover Trump, Falco is positioning Univision squarely as an advocate for its mostly Spanish-speaking audience.” ^[58]

In September 2016, Falco took on the Commission on Presidential Debates once again. In an open letter to executive director Janet H. Brown, published in Variety, Falco wrote: “I am writing to express disappointment, and frankly disbelief, that the Commission on Presidential Debates has not chosen a Hispanic journalist to moderate the presidential debates. Simply put: it’s an abdication of your responsibility to represent and reflect one of the largest and most influential communities in the U.S.” ^[59]

In August 2017, following violent race-related clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, Falco spoke out against the White House response and called upon corporate leaders to act. As reported on deadline.com: “Without mentioning Trump by name, Falco said in an open letter that he opposes the ‘abject failure to clearly and forcefully denounce the actions of white supremacists, Neo-Nazis, and others who espouse racist and hateful views.’ He adds that the ‘current insanity threatens to spiral out of control and has to stop. Leadership is needed. Leaders from corporate America must step in to protect the communities we serve, as so many leaders in our nation’s Capital are failing to speak out forcefully and clearly against the spreading hate and bigotry.’” ^[60]

Beginning in September 2017, on eight separate occasions Falco took action in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. He told Adweek, “Univision will continue to stand by the thousands of talented DREAMers whose stories are unmistakably American. The loss of DREAMers in our workforce and in our communities will result in significant harm to the success of this great nation and to organizations like Univision that give voice to the underrepresented.” ^[61] In January 2018, Univision expanded its efforts in support of the DACA program by creating an interactive tool that enables DACA supporters to easily make their voices heard by legislators nationwide to help protect Dreamers and modernize the country's immigration system.^[62]

Falco also led Univision's efforts to support those impacted by a series of natural disasters in 2017. On September 23, 2017, a seven-hour telethon, Unidos por los Nuestros (United for Each Other) that aired across the networks of Univision enabled the American Red Cross to raise more than $3 million to assist the survivors and victims of the Mexican earthquakes and Hurricane Maria, as well as ongoing support for communities impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey.^[63] In addition, Univision employees traveled to Puerto Rico to deliver shipments of emergency supplies from Univision and some of its business and community partners.^[64]

As part of his job with Univision, Falco has been recognized for his efforts and leadership with issues around children of illegal immigrants in the United States^[65] and unaccompanied children at the U.S.–Mexico border following his letter to the U.S. president and legislative leaders,^[66] and was awarded the “champion award” by KIND in 2015.^[43] The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences also recognized Falco for his leadership in the industry with the Board of Trustees’ Award,^[67] and Cablefax included Randy in its Greatest Hits of for the past three years.^[68] In January 2017, Falco was named a recipient of NATPE's 14th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards for demonstrating a high degree of excellence, vision and leadership through the process of creating compelling content.^[69] Additionally, in 2013 Falco was named the MS Hope Award honoree by the National MS Society;^[70] inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame;^[71] and was also honored by Ballet Hispanico with its Civic Inspiration Award.^[72]

In 2018, Falco was awarded an Impact Award by the National Hispanic Media Coalition for his “Outstanding Service and Commitment to the Latino community”.^[73]

Falco, a native of the Bronx, NY, attended Iona College, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance in 1975 and his Master of Business Administration, also in finance, in 1979. He received an honorary doctorate from Iona College in 2001.^[74] He and his wife Susan have three children.^[75] Falco sits on the board of directors of the Ronald McDonald House and is a member of the advisory board of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.^[2][76]