Council on American Politics

Emilio Pardo
Senior Vice-President, Discovery Communications, Inc.

Mr. Pardo is a senior executive with over 17 years of development and management experience with non-profit, corporate and governmental organizations. He is currently responsible for all product development, product licensing, new market channel development, and joint ventures for AARP Services, Inc.. Mr. Pardo also manages all strategic alliances and corporate partnerships efforts for AARP which include working with organizations like The Home Depot, United Health Care, The Hartford Group, Proctor & Gamble and Travelocity.

Most recently he served as one of the senior executives for Discovery Communications, Inc. where he was responsible for special projects and development spanning of all 14 broadcast networks including Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, and FitTV.

While at Discovery he developed a number of new on-air and off-air partnerships for the health and fitness sectors including the development of the first-ever Continuing Medical Education (CME) broadcast programs for Discovery Health Channel.

Mr. Pardo has developed several major national health and fitness initiatives and partnerships including the first-ever televised awards show and gala "Medical Honors 2004" which celebrated the achievements of our nation's most eminent health care leaders, professionals, and scientists dedicated to improving and protecting the health of all Americans. He has also created and forged dozens of public/private alliances with influential organizations such as U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, White House Office of Drug Control and Policy, The National Park Service, Kaiser Family Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The African Medical Research and Education Foundation.

Prior to joining Discovery Communications, Inc., he was CEO and director of CityNet Telecommunications, Inc. in Silver Spring, MD and president of Universal Access, Inc. in Chicago, IL. As CEO and director of CityNet Telecommunications, he worked closely with cable, telecom and major municipalities on developing new methods of deploying and offering broadband and other information services to the citizenship. He was also responsible for leading a fundraising team which yielded a $475 million capital raise.

Mr. Pardo served as senior vice president and senior partner at Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, Inc., the nation's second largest public relations and marketing firm. During his 10-year career at Fleishman-Hillard he is credited with innovating some of the agencies most successful and largest products and services as well as pioneering its global expansion. He also served as head of business development and founder of the social marketing practice for Fleishman-Hillard International. Mr. Pardo has managed and mentored numerous senior strategic communications professionals, representing interests and organizations as diverse as: SBC, PBS, AARP, VISA, AOL, TELMEX, Direct Marketing Association, and The White House National Anti-Drug Communications effort.

Former senior advisor to over 40 Fortune 500 companies on issues dealing with reputation management, branding, cyber-safety, and international market expansion. Mr. Pardo was also U.S. Senate Press Secretary to Chairman Fritz Hollings (D-SC) where he was the national spokesman for 5 years on major national issues such as telecom reform, aviation deregulation, public television, Merchant Marines, U.S. Tourism, and NASA Space Policy.