• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, October 5, 2012

Univision has tapped a former executive at chief competitor Telemundo for a similar post. Steve Mandala, who oversaw sales at Telemundo for close to nine years, joins Univision as an executive vice president leading the client development group, along with sports and direct-response sales.

After his Telemundo role, he led all cable sales at NBCUniversal before leaving the company earlier this year during an executive shakeup. At Univision, he will report to Keith Turner, president of sales and marketing, who also had a lengthy NBCU tenure.

Turner has also realigned Univision’s sales group with Laura Molen heading network sales; Mark Dante leading sales at the TV station group; Charlie Echeverry in the interactive business; and Lee Davis in radio. All are executive vice presidents.

Roberto Ruiz will serve as a senior vice president on the brand solutions team.

Lisa McCarthy, who was an executive vice president in the client development group, has launched a consulting firm, while Graciela Eleta, who was a senior vice president in brand solutions, has become a consultant.

Previously in his career, Mandala led West Coast sales for Univision.