Juan Martinez joined the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in 2002 and is a member of its executive committee, where he plays a key role in shaping and implementing the foundation’s strategy. He oversees the foundation’s financial management, regulatory compliance and reporting, while also managing its $2.5 billion investment portfolio. As Treasurer, Juan aligns the foundation’s $150 million annual spending needs with available liquidity across its investments, ensuring both stability and impact. He also partners closely with program staff to support the development of grants and program-related investments.
During his time at Knight Foundation, Juan launched a grant financial review program to evaluate the financial and business operations of the foundation’s major programmatic investments. He was instrumental in developing the Knight Enterprise Fund, which invested in over 50 early-stage digital media companies advancing the foundation’s mission. Juan also serves on the board of the portfolio company, ViewLift, a leading OTT management and streaming platform.
In addition to his operational leadership, Juan staffs both the foundation’s Audit and Investment Committees, collaborating closely with Committee Chairs and Trustees to support strong governance and stewardship.
Juan began his career at the CPA firm Arthur Andersen & Co., where he worked for four years before founding a company focused on developing intellectual property for film and television and working as an independent financial consultant. Before joining Knight Foundation, he served as manager of financial planning for Telemundo Group Inc., the second-largest Spanish-language television network in the U.S. An alumnus of Florida International University, Miami Dade College and the Wharton School of Business, Juan has been a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida since 1992. He remains actively engaged in the community, currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Florida International University Foundation. His past service includes leadership roles with the Council on Foundations, The Miami Foundation and Goldman Sachs' Launch with GS initiative supporting diverse entrepreneurs.