Multi-Emmy nominated TV exec Leonardo Aranguibel, who spearheaded the production of Disney Latin America’s hit local adaptations of “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” is leaving the company effective Feb. 22.
Aranguibel is currently production VP and head of production, operations & strategy at The Walt Disney Company Latin America, where he has worked since 2005.
He coined the term “Superseries” to describe these local adaptations, which included “Brothers & Sisters” and “Revenge,” among others, a term later adopted by the trade press and the regional industry.
Aranguibel will be exploring other avenues after likely taking a much-deserved break. “This is something I have been considering for quite a while. In fact, it was almost two years ago when I first consulted our HR Head about it, and recent structure adjustments in our organization have sped this step up,” he told Variety, adding: “I’ve been with Disney for 20-plus years, not only in Latin America, but also covering EMEA [Europe, the Middle East and Africa] and the U.S .Hispanic market as well for almost a decade, so it’s evident that it’s time for a change.”
He worked closely with the late Diego Lerner, who spearheaded Disney Latin America’s robust expansion as its president. While some shifts were already taking place, Lerner’s demise in December has hastened more structural changes within the company, as it has reverted to more centralized operations, with territories now reporting directly to Burbank.
“I feel extremely proud of my career as a whole, and of having been part of teams that led the pace and changes in our region for more than 15 years in a row, with historical achievements. As we Venezuelans say, “Nadie nos puede quitar lo bailado” – which means, “Nobody can take what we have danced away from us,” he said.
Aranguibel cut his teeth in the TV business at Venezuela’s leading broadcaster RCTV, where he worked as exteriors and studio director of several international telenovela productions, including “Leonela,” “La Dama de Rosa,” “La Intrusa” and “La Salvaje.”
He was also producing and directing musicals and video clips for such international artists as Juan Luis Guerra y su 4.40, Cheo Feliciano and Franco de Vita, which spurred HBO to hire him to oversee production for YATV, a joint venture between Warner Music, HBO and a European record company, marking his auspicious start in international television.
As VP of original productions at HBO Hispanic Americas & Brazil from 1995-2001, he led a team that created pioneering franchises like “Cronicas Anonimas” and “Septimo Sentido.”
After relocating with his family to the U.S. in mid-2002, he worked as a freelance writer, director and producer for People & Arts and Discovery Networks from 2002 to 2004. He subsequently led the studio production of NBC-Telemundo’s hit telenovela “Prisionera” (2004).
Joining Disney in 2005, he worked on the “Superseries” and such hit shows as the Juan Gabriel bio series “Hasta que te conoci,” where he is credited for the original screenplay, as an executive producer and as writer-director of some episodes. Its unprecedented success led to a wave of biopics in the industry with Aranguibel executive producing some of the very best, such as “Selena’s Secret” (2018) and “Monzon: A Knockout Blow.” Other standout series he executive produced for Disney took in “Santa Evita,” (2023) and “The Boss” (2022-24). All stood out for their production values.
Aranguibel also executive produced seven seasons of the multi-Emmy-winning adventure reality series “The Amazing Race” in the region where it was a Disney LatAm production for Discovery Networks and later for Turner Networks. He also became a Disney consultant for several international adaptations of the show in European and Middle Eastern countries.
“I’m not sure if this is my last stop, but as of today, I’m inclined to believe it is. Of course, I will remain involved in several creative initiatives, individually as well as alongside family, colleagues and friends. Still, I’m a never-say-never type of guy,” he mused.
John Hopewell contributed to this article.