Team size: Eight

Since last October, I was appointed as head of the legal, corporate affairs and compliance department of UNACEM Ecuador, which is part of a business group with a diversified portfolio of companies in the cement, concrete, and electricity sectors, as well as related services, with a presence in five countries: Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, and the United States.

Since then, my team has been involved in finishing the M&A transaction that fused both cement and concrete companies to provide our customers with the best products and services possible to fulfill our commitment and our focus on developing infrastructure and housing in the countries where we operate, creating opportunities to lay the foundations of a sustainable future for all.

Alongside our purpose and commitment to a sustainable future for all, we have various diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that are part of our general sustainability program. From our policy, there are four main subjects in which we have decided to intervene: i) gender equality, ii) generations, iii) disability inclusion and iv) ethnic groups and cultures. Our legal team is part of a multidisciplinary team in charge of developing and applying these principles in our company’s culture in order for us to ensure faceable changes in the way we relate with our own coworkers, clients, suppliers and influence area.

We understand that we have a responsibility towards society and our stakeholders, therefore as we are responsible for the compliance department, we have appointed a compliance officer who will reinforce our ethical way of doing business.

With regards to our external lawyers with which we cooperate, apart from experience, price and service, it is very important that they align with our company’s values. We could not imagine working with external lawyers who do not, hence it is very important that they can demonstrate integrity, ethical behavior and a solid compliance program.