Regional legal director Central America | Colgate-Palmolive
Alfonso Videche
Regional legal director Central America | Colgate-Palmolive
Alfonso Videche joined Colgate-Palmolive in 2008 as their regional legal director for Central America and the Dominican Republic. During his ten year post he has been a specialist of the Latin American division in various areas. Commended for his ability to create exceptional legal teams, Videche has changed the perception of the department, not only impacting the company’s results, but transforming it into an innovative and creative company function: ‘We made the legal department relevant to all other functions, we earned a seat at the table in the leadership team, we became proactive, creative, innovative and a force on its own. We simplified many areas of the company that related directly with legal like human resources, finance, supply chain, marketing and sales. All while providing a saving of 10% every year in the budget’, says Videche. Trusted for his first-rate leadership qualities, in 2016 he did a short term assignment as regional legal director for Colgate-Palmolive Iberia for eight months, to create a legal department by himself with a limited budget and no personnel, putting in place new policies and practices. Between 2017 and 2018 the legal team won a number of internal Colgate-Palmolive awards, including four “You Can Make a Difference Awards” awarded by the chairman, a corporate yearly award and two global legal awards. Videche previously served as legal manager for Central America and the Caribbean for British American Tobacco Caribbean and Central America. Upon graduating, Videche started working in his own law firm in 1996, then went to work for Facio & Cañas, and Odio & Raven for five years with a focus on foreign investment.