Velez is SVP, head of development for UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. In this role, he is responsible for the studio’s series development across all platforms. He reports to Beatrice Springborn, president, UCP.
Velez oversees development of the studio’s premium and award-winning programming, which includes The Umbrella Academy, Candy, Gaslit, Dr. Death, The Girl From Plainville, Queer as Folk, Chucky and Resident Alien. He works closely with the studio’s talent roster, including Sam Esmail, Seth MacFarlane, Tanya Saracho, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Nick Antosca and numerous others.
Prior to joining UCP, Velez was president of Lee Daniels Entertainment, where he developed and executive produced ABC’s Wonder Years, Fox’s Our Kind of People, BET’s The Ms. Pat Show and the Sammy Davis Jr. limited series for Hulu. He also headed the Lee Daniels Inclusion Fund, which supports up-and-coming diverse voices.
Previously, Velez was SVP at Imagine Television, where he developed Lee Daniels’ Empire for Fox and worked on Netflix’s Arrested Development.
