José María Caro to become chief content officer at Spanish production giant
HBO Max Spain’s originals chief José María Caro has left the streamer and joined The Butterfly Labyrinth and Zorro producer, Secuoya Studios.
María Caro’s exit was confirmed on Monday and followed what the Warner Bros Discovery-owned streamer described as a “review” of its “local setup and priorities” under HBO Max’s US-based head of originals, Sarah Aubrey.
Deniz Oflaz, vice president of originals in Spain, Italy and Turkey, is taking interim charge at HBO Max, but a full-time replacement for María Caro is being sought.
María Caro, meanwhile, will become chief content officer at Secuoya Studios, leading its global content strategy, creative development and overseeing sales.
His arrival comes less than a month after the exit of former chief exec and Sony alum, Brendan Fitzgerald.
Raúl Berdonés, exec chairman of Secuoya Content Group, said María Caro would offer “an exceptional combination of creative vision, international experience, and deep knowledge in content development and production.”
“His arrival reinforces Secuoya Studios’ commitment to a solid and distinctive strategy, consolidating our position as a studio focused on creating relevant stories with a unique identity and the ability to connect with global audiences, while also driving new opportunities for growth and international expansion,” Berdonés added.
María Caro added that he would focus on “contributing to the company’s international expansion and strategic development.”
The exec, who was previously at Buendía Estudios and head of Spanish originals at Amazon MGM Studios, had been in charge of HBO Max’s local originals in Spain since January 2025 having joined WBD a year earlier.
Aubrey told Broadcast International in March that she had been touring HBO Max’s European offices earlier this year in a bid to plot out the streamer’s strategy in the region. New business models and rights requirements are being explored, with plans to ramp up originals across the continent and increasing development spending.
In a staff memo seen by Broadcast International, Oflaz - who took on her expanded remit to oversee originals in Spain and Italy as well as Turkey in April - said María Caro and WBD had “mutually agreed to part ways.”
He had been behind shows such as When No One Sees Us and Rage durin ghis tenure, and Oflaz thanked the exec’s “contribution and professionalism”.
She added: “We remain firmly committed to premium Spanish storytelling and building a strong future slate.” HBO Max unveiled a deal with producer and former Movistar+ chief Domingo Corral in March.
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