Team size:    +3.000 employees

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

Based on my experience, key factors include a deep understanding of the business, recognising the urgent needs of various sectors, and collaborating from the start in a structured way with all organisational departments. This approach doesn’t ensure absolute success but highly increases the chances that the legal department’s actions will be in sync with the overall company strategy, especially with the commercial department.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company? 

I want to emphasise that sustainability is more than a passing fad; it is clear, and I firmly believe, that any business which fails to recognize the significance of sustainability and neglects to integrate genuine sustainable practices across all levels will, undoubtedly and not mistakenly, face obsolescence swiftly.

Sustainability encompasses numerous dimensions and arenas for action; it includes safeguarding shareholder interests, where the legal division plays an indisputable role. Similarly, sustainability involves enhancing employee well-being, with the legal team again taking on significant responsibilities. Sustainability is also about honoring the commitments and value propositions to consumers, which requires the legal department’s verification of feasibility within the prevailing laws. Furthermore, sustainability signifies maintaining relationships with authorities and various stakeholders, where the legal sector is responsible for smoothing these interactions and, together with Compliance, ensuring adherence to both the internal code

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment? 

Since taking over as leader of Cemex’s legal team in Colombia and Peru, my goal has been to impact the organisation positively while acknowledging past efforts. Therefore, I’ve established a leadership approach centered on excellence, service, commitment, and notably, diversity and inclusion.

I’ve fostered conversation spaces for unfiltered, unbiased discussion where every viewpoint is respected. My policy is an open-door one, ensuring all team members feel at ease and value their roles within both the legal squad and the company as individuals.

Our weekly meetings begin with open discussions on various current topics, where I continuously encourage everyone to voice their thoughts without fear. Under my leadership, every team member’s input is equally important, regardless of position, tenure, agreement with popular opinions, gender, beliefs, age, experience, or educational background. In closing, I believe bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and encouraging knowledge sharing enables limitless achievement potential