About

Joining General Motors de México in 1995, Iliana Martinez has occupied several positions within the legal department and was appointed general counsel in 2004, later assuming responsibility for Central America and the Caribbean. Having become the first female in company’s history to occupy a position on the board of directors, Martinez is an inspirational woman in business who routinely wins industry awards. In describing her responsibilities, Martinez says ‘My role as general counsel is perceived not only as a lawyer but as a director that also understands the business objectives and that counsels the board to achieve results in line with the law and ethics’. As part of this she had an important role in the opening of two new sites; one proving ground and one plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Martinez has encouraged the whole legal team to think with the same mentality, with the effect that ‘the business has started looking at the internal lawyers more as business partners and advisors’. She also notes her implementation of a new compliance program and the “Winning The Integrity” internal culture initiative as having a significant positive impact on company strategy. In addition to her duties at General Motors, Martinez is an active member and certified lawyer of the National Association of Business Lawyers (ANADE) presently holding the position of first assistant secretary of the national executive committee for the 2015 – 2016 period. From 2012 to 2013 she headed the legal committee of the Mexican Association of Automobile Industry (AMIA) and chaired the legal affairs committee of the American Chamber of Commerce – Mexico (AMCHAM) until December 2014.