Top NBC Universal executive Jeff Gaspin’s world got a lot bigger and more challenging on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Gaspin was put in charge of Telemundo, the Spanish-language network that has struggled in the shadows of its dominant rival, Univision Communications Inc., ever since NBC bought the operation five years ago for $2.7 billion.

Gaspin, who is quickly becoming NBC Universal’s jack-of-all-trades, also picked up responsibility for domestic TV syndication. He will continue to oversee the company’s general entertainment cable channels, including USA Network and Bravo. Gaspin still will play a role in NBC Universal’s efforts in digital media, including the Internet.

“My focus will be on the strategy and building new business models for all of these platforms,” Gaspin said.

But turning around Telemundo could prove to be his trickiest task. The Spanish-language operation has long been something of a hot potato in the NBC Universal executive suites. Gaspin, who does not speak Spanish, becomes the fifth senior NBC executive to lead the network, which has failed to increase its share of the audience since the acquisition.

Read the full L.A. Times story

.(registration required)