Surprise came as a surprise when allegations of his inappropriate behavior surfaced in the newsroom. Soon Mr. Santamaria's former colleagues at Al Jazeera, where he had worked for 16 years, began speaking.
A BBC investigation - interviews with several current and former employees at Al Jazeera, and documentary evidence of inappropriate messages and complaints from employees - has found several allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Santamaria in the broadcaster's Doha newsroom. Some say he was not alone.
They also accuse the company of fostering a toxic work culture where complaints of harassment, sexism, bullying and racism are largely unresolved. Those who spoke to the BBC wanted to remain anonymous because they feared it would affect their careers. Their names have been changed.
Mr. Santamaria did not respond directly to the BBC. But he issued a public statement where he acknowledged the previously reported allegations, saying that some are "true, some important references are missing, some outright lies and a rewrite of history".
In response to the allegations made by the BBC, he acknowledged and apologized for "behavior that may have made anyone uncomfortable" and which he previously considered to be "flirt, over-friendly, 'just a little joking', or simply was not, in fact, within acceptable limits in the prevailing newsroom culture".
The BBC sent Al Jazeera a detailed list of the 22 allegations it uncovered, but the broadcaster did not address them personally, saying instead that it "considers its employees around the world to be the backbone and foundation of the company." - Their safety and well being is of utmost importance". It added: "As an international organization with over 95 nationalities, we continually strive to create a healthy and creative work environment for all."
Employees also told the BBC they struggle to raise issues in Qatar, a small gas-rich state in the middle of the Gulf that has been criticized for its record on human rights and gender equality.
Many pointed to the difference between Mr Santamaria's departure from Al Jazeera - a proud tweet announcing the end of a successful 16-year term - and his hasty exit from TVNZ, forced by a flurry of accusations. was appearing.
'I had to wipe his saliva off my face'
Mr. Santamaria, who began his career as a TV reporter in New Zealand, was hired by Al Jazeera as a presenter on the English language channel in Doha in 2005.
He quickly rose the ranks, anchoring major stories from around the world such as the 2020 US presidential election and major events.
Those who knew him say that he was outgoing, talkative and an "extraordinary broadcaster".
Tori was a young producer at Al Jazeera when she says she started paying unwanted attention to him. She says he will message her on Twitter that he is available for a hug and will ask why he hadn't called her on his vacation. The BBC has seen evidence of inappropriate messages sent to colleagues on Twitter, WhatsApp and internal Al Jazeera emails.
"Then touched up in the office," Tori says. "A hand on the shoulder, an awkward hug, and worst of all: a kiss on the cheek. On more than one occasion I had to go to the bathroom to wipe Kamal's saliva off my face."
Tory says he discussed Mr Santamaria's behavior with at least one fellow colleague and a mid-level manager, both of whom confirmed to the BBC that these conversations had taken place.
Al Jazeera was launched in 1996, and soon attracted a large audience for its dynamic coverage of the Arab world.
"A professional person in a serious newsroom should not, more than once, tell her colleague how hot she looks or refer to her 'tits' or invite her to hug, even if He only thinks they're 'friends,'" Tory says. More than one person has told the BBC that Mr Santamaria had made comments about his co-host's breasts.
Several current and former associates allege that Mr. Santamaria's behavior was witnessed on more than one occasion.
A male employee who currently works at Al Jazeera said Mr Santamaria kissed him on the face in the newsroom without calling him. A news editor, now a senior leader of the channel, reportedly saw it.
Another former junior producer said Mr. Santamaria kissed her on the neck in front of several people at work. "I felt so embarrassed and humiliated and really worried that people would think I was involved with him or trying to be - I was still making friends, there was no one in management to talk to about it. could talk," she said.
Many of them described Mr. Santamaria's behavior as shameless, but they say he never reported it because he told them a network
Fiona, who worked with Al Jazeera for four years, said Mr Santamaria tried to hug her in the newsroom, make sexual remarks and send inappropriate texts - behavior she called "textbook beauty".
She didn't complain formally, but she says she told her experience to a mid-level manager who said, "Oh, he's still not doing that, right?" She says she was asked if she wanted to contact HR, but didn't because she was on a short-term contract. She says that then she was advised to ignore Mr. Santamaria.
He stopped talking to her after that, she adds, but he warned the new employees about her.
When the allegations became public earlier this year, he says he had a panic attack.
"I reported to him six years ago, and nothing was done," she says. "How many other people has he done this to since then?"
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