Hernan Lopez (entrepreneur)

Hernan Lopez is an Argentine-American entrepreneur and media executive best known for his leadership roles in the radio and podcasting industries.

Lopez began his career at the Cisneros Group, a large media conglomerate based in Venezuela. He held various positions there before joining HBO Latin America.

In 2001, he joined Viacom, where he served as the CEO of MTV Networks Latin America. During his tenure, he oversaw significant growth in the region.

From 2011 to 2020, Lopez served as the founder and CEO of Wondery, a podcast network focused on narrative storytelling and true crime genres. Under his leadership, Wondery became one of the largest independent podcast networks, producing popular shows such as "Dirty John," "Dr. Death," and "Business Wars."

In December 2020, Amazon acquired Wondery for a reported $300 million. Lopez subsequently stepped down as CEO following the acquisition.

In 2020, Lopez was indicted on charges related to bribery and corruption within FIFA, the international governing body of association football. He pleaded not guilty. As of late 2023, the legal proceedings are ongoing.

Lopez has received recognition for his entrepreneurial success and contributions to the media industry. He is considered a key figure in the growth of the podcasting ecosystem.