Andalucía Digital Multimedia Suspends General Manager Amid Sexual Assault Investigation

The board of directors of Andalucía Digital Multimedia (ADM), a production company majority-owned by the Andalusian government, has suspended its general manager, Gustavo Fuentes Aguilar, following reports that he is under judicial investigation for alleged sexual assault and continuous sexual harassment of a company reporter. The board announced the temporary suspension of his functions on June 4, 2024, confirming that the legal proceedings against Fuentes are ongoing, with a court appearance scheduled for June 25.

Why was the suspension issued?

The decision by the ADM board follows reports published by elDiario.es, which revealed that a Seville court is investigating Fuentes regarding allegations made by an employee. According to internal communications sent to company staff, the board opted for a “temporary suspension of functions” to allow the legal process to unfold while maintaining the presumption of innocence. The company stated that it only learned of the judicial investigation on May 7, when Fuentes informed the board of a personal complaint filed by an employee currently on leave.

How did the legal process begin?

The case originated in January 2024, when the victim filed a formal complaint against the CEO. According to court records, the Juzgado de Violencia sobre la Mujer number 5 in Seville opened proceedings in February. The court heard the victim’s testimony on March 25. Although Fuentes was initially summoned to appear as an investigated party on May 11, the hearing was postponed to June 25 after a change in legal representation requested by the accused.

What is the position of Canal Sur and the Andalusian government?

ADM is a strategic partner of Canal Sur, and the Andalusian government holds a 47.81% stake in the production company through the public telecommunications entity Sandetel. Despite these ties, the management of the Radio y Televisión de Andalucía (RTVA) stated that it cannot activate its internal anti-harassment protocol. According to RTVA, the protocol is inapplicable because the complainant did not report the incident through internal company channels before pursuing judicial action.

The company’s internal compliance department conducted a review of the situation, but the investigation was limited. According to statements provided by Fuentes to the press, the compliance officer interviewed him but did not interview the complainant, citing the fact that the matter was already being handled by the judicial system.

Key Details of the Administrative Response

• Internal Measures: Following the disclosure, the board granted joint powers to the Chief Financial Officer to handle company contracts.
• Partial Separation: Prior to the full suspension, the board had already restricted Fuentes’ authority regarding personnel management and specific financial decisions linked to the court case.
• Leadership: Sergio Gómez Rojas, the director of Sandetel, serves as the president of the ADM board. As of early June, he has not provided public comments regarding the board’s oversight of the CEO.

The investigation remains active, and further developments are expected following the court appearance scheduled for late June. The board of ADM has not yet announced a permanent replacement for the general manager role.