About

After graduating in 1994 from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Alejandro Berríos Durán practiced law from 1995 to 1999, a time during which he says he ‘developed legal and commercial experience working for Banco de Chile in the development of legal commercial information systems for new businesses’. Later he joined the Ministry of National Property, where he specialised in real estate matters as a lawyer in the legal department and before being promoted to head of the Department of Decrees and Resolutions until 2005. During that time Berríos specialised in economic administrative law, especially in regulated markets, electrical and mining. Among his achievements at the public body was the creation of extensive national parks and the regularisation of national bases in Antarctica. When commenting on his experience of working in the public sector, Berríos says, ‘I learned to work towards a social goal and feeling the satisfaction of doing something good for future generations’. In 2005 he joined the D&S Group, owner of the largest supermarket chain in Chile at the time, as a real estate specialist lawyer. As demonstration of his highly productive work ethic, the company grew from 86 stores to a total of 380 stores throughout the country whilst he was handling real estate matters there. Following the 2009 acquisition of a majority stake in D&S by Walmart, the US multinational retail corporation, Berríos took over all legal matters concerning real estate, contracts and operations. Whilst in his current role at Walmart Chile of legal manager, where he is responsible for the areas of real estate, contracts, technology, corporate and logistics, he has actively participated in M&A processes such as the acquisition of commercial opportunities for the development of new sales channels and the sale of the Walmart shopping centres. Regarding the latter, he says: ‘The sale of Walmart Chile’s shopping centres has undoubtedly been a successful and relevant process. But the most important one is not always the one that means the highest income, but the most challenging one, and nowadays each opening of a store and distribution centre demands more efforts and creativity to continue being leaders in our market’. Having an in-house lawyer with Berríos’ credentials, Walmart Chile is well placed to achieve such a mission.