About

Interbank (also known as Banco Internacional del Perú) is one of Peru’s largest banks with approximately $12.7bn of total assets. In April 2007, Zelma F. Acosta-Rubio joined the executive management team of Interbank as general counsel and board secretary – she is now also responsible for overseeing Interbank’s corporate affairs and corporate social responsibility integrated strategy. Despite working as a legal professional for 16 years prior to this appointment, Acosta-Rubio admits it was rare for someone without a long-standing career in the banking industry to be selected for such a prominent position; although Interbank were clearly aware of her capability in such legal matters. On her early activities at the bank, she says, ‘The technical learning curve was steep, however, being a quick learner with fine business acumen, experience in Latin America and strong communication skills I knew I could build the team Interbank needed. At the outset, I presented a vision, a plan and a budget to restructure the legal function’. Acosta-Rubio adds, ‘The opportunity moulded me in becoming a visionary and inspirational leader with a clear intent to effect change in the legal profession, particularly, in the in-house function’. Having trained with the bank’s C-Suite teams on strategy, service models, leadership, execution, disruptive business trends and innovation, Acosta-Rubio plays a key role in the management of the company. ‘As general counsel, Interbank’s board and leadership team expected me to bring a legal perspective to the table but overall my mandate is to make things happen and unlock corporate value with a shared value perspective and the highest standards of transparency and integrity, whilst in alignment with the Banks´s strategy’, she explains. Further demonstrating her worth to the company, Acosta-Rubio has oversight of corporate finance transactions, most of which are signed, negotiated and executed entirely in-house. ‘In the last three years I have been involved in major negotiations with IT providers assisting to design the new IT architecture of the bank. During 2016, I led the team negotiating our first IT Outsourcing Contract with US Technology Company IBM’, she claims. She also participates in the Banking Law Committee of the Peruvian National Association of Banks (ASBANC). Advising ASBANC on regulatory trends, identifies industry wide threats and opportunities, she has served as ASBANC vice president or president for a total of five years. The position has allowed her to develop excellent relationship with regulators and anticipate business risks for the bank´s operations, including, participating in drafting new laws and regulations for the banking industry, particularly, consumer protection regulations, retail banking regulation, corporate governance and solutions for digital banking. She is also commended for being an active promoter of female empowerment and leadership in the workplace having lectured, written and participated on panels for this topic. Prior to interbank, Acosta-Rubio spent three years as general counsel for ChurroMania International Corporation. Between 1991 and 2000 she served as an associate at law firm Clifford Chance in London.