MIRAMAR, FLA. — For nearly 17 years, he was a pivotal executive within the Telemundo Station Group under the NBCUniversal banner, rising from Director of Digital Platforms to become President/General Manager of Telemundo stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers-Naples in February 2024.
Now, many across the South Florida media community and the U.S. Hispanic market are unexpectedly mourning the 55-year-old local TV leader, who perished Wednesday in an accident involving a tourist helicopter in Kenya.
José Alberto Suárez was one of five Americans who died when the helicopter they were in crashed in the northeastern portion of the African nation early in the day on August 19. .
In a joint statement, NBCU News Group Chairman Cesar Conde, NBCU Local Chairman Valari Staab and Telemundo Station Group President José Cancela said they were heartbroken to learn of his death. “José was an exceptional colleague who cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the important role our stations play in people’s lives,” the statement said. “He brought energy, humor, warmth and a strong sense of purpose to his work, and his impact was felt far beyond the stations he led. Our hearts are with his loved ones, and with all of José’s colleagues and friends who are grieving this terrible loss.”
Suárez returned to Florida after serving as President/GM for KBLR-TV in Las Vegas, KCSO-LD in Sacramento, and KNSO-TV in Fresno. From January 2016 until taking over the trio of Telemundo stations, he held similar duties for KVDA-60 in San Antonio.
The role at “Telemundo 60” was Suárez’s first to directly involve a Telemundo property. Before that, he served as Director of Creative Services & Programming at WTVJ-6, the NBC O&O in Miami.
Suárez first joined NBCUniversal in March 2005 as Executive Producer of WTVJ’s night and weekend newscasts, and in February 2006 rose to Director of Digital Media for both WTVJ and WSCV “Telemundo 51.” In early 2009, he would exit NBCU for the role of Director of Local Programming for WSFL-TV, the Tribune Broadcasting-owned home of The WB Network. The role would last just 10 months, with Suárez returning to NBCU.
Suárez began his career in September 1995 as a Special Projects Intern at WFOR-4, the CBS News & Stations property in Miami. Other early experience includes roles as News Director for KMDX-FM & KDCD-FM in San Angelo, Tex.; as a reporter for KBIM-10 in Roswell, N. Mex.; and as an anchor and News Director at KACB-3 in San Angelo, Tex. From June 2001-March 2005, Suárez served as News Director for WUPW-TV in Toledo under LIN Media ownership.
Others who perished in the crash include the director general of Ecuador’s national intelligence center, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife Stephany Hollihan; and Miami restaurateur Roger Edward Duarte, co-founder of Mi Ceviche.
The aviation authority said that the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4 and was in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in Kenya.
