COA Symposium and 23rd BRAVO Business Awards to Convene Corporate and Policy Leaders from the Americas

Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade Alexander Mora, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, and IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno headline a one-day conference on the pressing issues impacting the Americas today.

Miami, October 18, 2017—On November 3, Council of the Americas will host the Symposium and 23rd BRAVO Business Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami. The high-level conference and gala will gather over 400 influential business and policy leaders for a substantial and interactive discussion on topics ranging from sustainable growth to trade and investment, as well as regional connectivity and leadership in the digital era. This event will be live webcast.

“For this new edition of the Symposium and the BRAVO Business Awards, we have convened an outstanding lineup of public- and private-sector leaders,” said Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) President and CEO Susan Segal. “Bringing together in one venue some of the most successful thinkers and doers in the region and recognizing them for their achievements and contributions is central to our mission of fostering productive exchanges in the Americas.”

This year’s Symposium will open with a discussion on the region’s sustainable economic and social development featuring Angel Gurría, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Alexander Mora, Costa Rica’s minister of foreign trade. Andrés Gluski, president and CEO of the AES Corporation and AS/COA’s chairman, will moderate the conversation.

Additional highlights include a keynote address by Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and a conversation between Horst Paulmann, founder and chairman of Cencosud and AS/COA’s Susan Segal. A host of global CEOs and top executives from leading multinational and multilatina companies will engage in conversation on the regional economic landscape and the impact of technology in corporations, among other themes.

Corporate Leadership in the Digital Era

Leaders from prominent Latin American companies will review the impact, challenges, and opportunities of incorporating new technologies into their organizations. Panelists include: Jorge Becerra, The Boston Consulting Group; Fernando González, CEMEX; and Damián Scokin, Despegar.com. César Cernuda from Microsoft Latin America will moderate the panel.

Facilitating Cross-Border Trade and Investment in the Hemisphere

Corporate leaders will discuss new trends impacting business in the region including foreign direct investment, as well as cross-border trade between emerging and developed economies. Panelists include: Katia Bouazza, HSBC Securities; Andrés Conesa, Aeromexico; Fernando Iraola, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; and James P. Scriven, Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC). Xavier Serbiá, CNN Dinero, will lead the panel.

The daytime Symposium will close with afternoon concurrent sessions focused on some of the key issues and opportunities for the region.

CEOs and experts will evaluate the current strengths and future challenges for the tourism industry in Latin America. Panelists include: Jorge Apaez, IHG; Andrés Conesa, Aeromexico; Luciano Macagno, Delta Air Lines; and Damián Scokin, Despegar.com. Rogerio Basso, IIC, will lead the panel.

Senior executives will discuss the advantages of incorporating sustainable initiatives into their companies. Panelists include: Ana Mercedes Botero, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America; Tyler Bryson, Microsoft; Flavio Carrillo, Florida International University; Luisa García, LLORENTE & CUENCA; María Fernanda Mejía, Kellogg; Leo Rodríguez, Emerson Latin America; and James P. Scriven, IIC. Bernardo Guillamon, the IDB, will lead the panel.

Top private-sector leaders will discuss the benefits of incorporating artificial intelligence into business models. Panelists include: Daniel Alarcón, Logiety Technology; Ana Paula Assis, IBM; Guillermo Güémez Sarre, Grupo Financiero Banorte; and Stephen Stefani, Hospital do Câncer Mãe de Deus. Jorge Becerra, the Boston Consulting Group, will lead the panel.

The Symposium is organized in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank.

For the complete agenda of the Council of the Americas Symposium, visit bravobusiness.com. Follow the conversation via #BRAVObiz.

Following the Symposium, seven outstanding recipients will be recognized with the 23rd BRAVO Business Awards. In 2017, we will honor the following leaders who are impacting business and policy in the region and beyond:

• Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Legacy Award
• Horst Paulmann, Founder and Chairman of Cencosud, Lifetime Achievement
• Fernando González, CEO of CEMEX, CEO of the Year
• Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, and Andrés Conesa, CEO of Aeromexico, Visionary CEO Leadership
• María Fernanda Mejía, Senior Vice President of Kellogg Company and President of Kellogg Latin America, Dynamic CEO of the Year
• Jorge Pérez, Chairman and CEO of Related Group, Transformational Leader

Sponsors of the Council of the Americas Symposium and 23rd BRAVO Business Awards include: HSBC, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, LLORENTE & CUENCA, The AES Corporation, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, IBM, The Boston Consulting Group, Bombardier, Chubb, Emerson, Florida International University, Microsoft and SAP. Media partners: CNN and Financial Times. Supporting Organization: Enterprise Florida.

Press inquiries:
Yndira Marin | ymarin@llorenteycuenca.com | 1-646-386-6523.
AS/COA Media Relations | mediarelations@as-coa.org | 1-212-277-8384 | 1-212-277-8333.

Council of the Americas (COA) is the premier international business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere. The Council's membership consists of leading international companies representing a broad spectrum of sectors, including banking and finance, consulting services, consumer products, energy and mining, manufacturing, media, technology, and transportation.