Telefónica Replaces CEO of Movistar Plus+ with Alfonso Gómez After One Year in Role

Telefónica has removed Daniel Domenjó as chief executive of Movistar Plus+ just thirteen months after his appointment, replacing him with Alfonso Gómez Palacio, the former head of Telefónica Hispanoamérica.

The decision was made by Marc Murtra, Telefónica’s executive chairman, who had appointed Domenjó in March 2025. The move was approved in an extraordinary session of the board of directors on April 23, 2026, and forms part of a broader leadership overhaul aimed at strengthening operational control and financial discipline within the company’s content division.

Domenjó, who came from the independent production sector, saw his tenure end amid growing strategic tension over the direction of the pay-TV platform and the balance of power within Telefónica. His departure follows a pattern of executive changes under Murtra, who earlier in 2025 oversaw the exits of chief operating officer Ángel Vilá and digital chief Chema Alonso as part of a refresh of the executive team.

Alfonso Gómez Palacio, a Colombian national with two decades of experience at Telefónica, takes over the role. Most recently, he led the company’s operations across Latin America excluding Brazil, where he oversaw margin stabilization and capital structure optimization through the partial sale of fiber assets and the consolidation of strategic alliances.

His appointment signals a shift toward operational and financial management at Movistar Plus+, reflecting Murtra’s emphasis on efficiency and accountability. Gómez Palacio is expected to apply the same performance-focused model he used in Hispanoamérica to the content division, potentially improving the profitability of sports rights and reshaping the platform’s content portfolio.

The change also aligns with the increasing influence of SEPI, the Spanish state holding company which owns a 10 percent stake in Telefónica. SEPI’s presence has prompted efforts to bring the content unit in line with the strategic roadmap defined by the state, particularly regarding the monetization of premium broadcasting rights.

Industry observers note that the leadership change comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over the returns on major content investments, especially in sports, and reflects Telefónica’s broader effort to adapt its media operations to evolving market pressures and shareholder expectations.