Doing business in Mexico – overcoming the complexity

Jose Maria Zertuche, Managing director, CIO of Latin America Infrastructure Investment Group at BlackRock

Mr. Zertuche has over 16 years of experience investing in Mexican real assets. He is former Vice-President of I2, the leading infrastructure investment manager in Mexico acquired by BlackRock in October, 2015. His prior experience is in investment banking, including M&A, debt and equity capital markets transactions, asset management, strategy and operations. Mr. Zertuche was a founder of Infraestructura Institucional (I2) in 2010, and served as Chief Financial and Investment Officer since its inception in 2010. Prior to founding Infraestructura Institucional, Mr. Zertuche served as Chief Investment and Control Officer of Mexico Retail Properties (MRP Group), which he co-founded in October 2002.

Larry Rubin, President and Chairman of the Board at The American Society of Mexico

Larry Rubin is the President of The American Society of Mexico, together with the U.S. Ambassador in Mexico, representing two million Americans, and all the American companies and NGO’s. Larry is also the Managing Partner of Latin America for DHR International, one of the largest executive search firms in the world, where he has helped executives and companies meet and work together. For 20 years, he has been Managing Director in Mexico of several international companies. He was also on the Board of Directors for eleven consecutive years and was later appointed CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce. - As a leader of the American Chamber, he had great relevance in supporting initiatives and law reforms, as well as being critical of them if they were detrimental to Mexico and its investors. He was CEO of American Airlines, reaching this position at the age of 24. As General Director, he was elected First Vice President of the National Chamber of Air Transportation, he was also in the Board of Directors of CONCAMIN, and now serves as Vice President of this association. He is a professor at Universidad Anáhuac and also a member of the Board of this faculty.

Mark Weil, Chief Executive Officer at TMF Group

Mark worked as a consultant for two decades, across Europe, North America and Asia. He rose to become a partner at Oliver Wyman, where he ran the global Retail Banking practice. Following this he became Marsh’s CEO, UK and Ireland, and during his tenure it became the largest insurance broker in the UK. Mark has a degree in Engineering from University of Cambridge.

Miguel Angel Leaman, Director General at Agencia Por Mexico

Miguel Ángel Leaman is an economist, graduated from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in México City. Currently he is the General Director / CEO of Por México Trade and Investment Consulting Agency.

From 2013 and up to December 2018, he developed assignments in Por México, Mexico´s official agency responsible of promoting international business opportunities, such as Executive Director for International Business Models and Internationalization of Mexican companies.

Previously, Miguel Angel served as the Trade Commissioner of Mexico in Chicago for 16 years, representing Bancomext and Por México. He participated in the promotion of services in support of Mexico’s foreign trade in the Midwest of the USA.

As Trade Commissioner of Mexico in Chicago, he also provided information on trade and business opportunities; NAFTA matters, such as trade preferences; market trends; Mexico’s economic development, industrial sectors, subcontracting opportunities, laws, and regulations to comply with, among other subjects, to assist companies to do business in Mexico.

Before joining the Trade Commission of Mexico in Chicago, Miguel served as the Minister of Trade Affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C., where he worked for twelve years, holding posts as Economic Counselor and Assistant Commercial Counselor at the Embassy, representing the Ministry of Commerce (now of Economy). Miguel worked for the Government of Mexico since 1974 in both the Treasury, Commerce and Economy Departments. He served in such posts as Deputy Director for Bilateral Trade Negotiations, Head of the Office of Safeguards, and Coordinator for the Unit of International Economic Information.

Monica Vera, Managing Director at TMF Mexico

Monica has dedicated her career to consulting on technology enabled transformation for clients in several industries, across Canada and Latin America.

Currently she is Managing Director at TMF Group, leading global provider of high value business services to clients operating and investing globally, for the Mexico office. In her role, she is responsible for business development and operations.

Monica has experience as entrepreneur in the software related business development. Previously, she was Vice President and Partner for IBM Mexico where she led major digital transformation programs.

In other roles, Monica has developed deep consulting expertise in systems integration and application services for retail, pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies. She has led large ERP implementation teams for large, medium and small businesses, including regional projects, both in Canada and Latin America.

Monica holds a Public Accounting licentiate degree, Universidad Católica Andres Bello, Caracas; a Bachelor of Sciences degree, Syracuse University, Syracuse; and Humanistic Studies Master Degree, Universidad Virtual Tecnológico de Monterrey.