Viviana Alvarado Balderas has over a decade’s experience with Sura Mexico (formerly ING México), being made legal and compliance director in late 2009, prior to which she was senior legal counsel from mid-2003 onwards. She started her in-house career at ING Grupo Financiero, being in charge of corporate matters, negotiating credit facilities and providing advice on financial markets. During her years at ING, she gained experience in a number of financial industry businesses including banking, pensions and insurance. In early 2016, she was afforded executive responsibilities as her role expanded to that of legal and compliance executive director.

On assuming these new duties, Alvarado says, ‘becoming part of the management committee has been a career highlight’. Alvarado also points to her M&A work as something she is particularly proud of. Alvarado has participated in several M&A transactions and corporate restructuring projects, including the acquisition of Santander’s pension business in Mexico in 2007, the sale of ING’s insurance in Mexico to AXA in 2008 and the ING’s sale of its original asset management business to Sura in 2012 which she describes as having had a huge impact on her development. She has also had a major effect on the development of the wider legal function at Sura Asset Management, as she explains: ‘I have constituted a team with strong negotiation and technical skills to support the business and investments teams on a day-to-day basis. My team has continuous training in Mexico and abroad, and is known in the market for the professionalism and capabilities of its members’. Alvarado and her team have been responsible for a number of company projects that have had a significant positive impact on its fortunes, becoming key partners with the business.

Among others, in 2014 the team participated in the acquisition of a life insurance company. And, on Sura Asset Management’s issue of international bonds in 2017. In addition to her legal role, Alvarado is responsible of anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and compliance matters. She currently serves as secretary of the board. Her career highlights include effective implementation of regulatory changes, and providing legal support to strategic and business innovation projects.