Violy McCausland DIEPPA
Founder & CEO
EXPERIENCED, CREATIVE, CLIENT CENTERED
Mrs. McCausland-Seve has been completing value-added transactions and providing advisory services for the past 40 years for her clients globally and particularly throughout Latin America, creating one of the most powerful networks in the industry.
She is recognized as one of the most successful bankers on Wall Street. In Latin America and Spain, she has pioneered privatizations, financial restructurings, and the return of companies to the global capital markets. She has taken small companies and through creative cross border mergers & acquisitions, made them global players. Mrs. McCausland-Dieppa has personally led more than US$120 billion in successful transactions. She had especially deep expertise working with entrepreneurs, family owned, and multi-generational companies to engineer strategies that take into account both family demands and strategic longevity.
Violy has earned accolades from Harvard’s Business School which employs specific case studies of Violy’s deals highlighting her success in using creative approaches and solutions to clients' strategic challenges. None of these deals were easy: Each deal was completed with persistence and a belief that each transaction was the right one for the client. For this reason, Harvard has chosen to use Violy’s deals as case studies.
Early on, Mrs. McCausland believed that companies, whether they were based in Mexico, Spain or the U.S., faced similar challenges of scale and global competitiveness. She was the first to complete consolidations in various industries, placing her clients as top tier global players. In categories as distinct as beverage, cement and finance, Violy created the roadmap that brought her clients into the top 10 global companies in their sector. She did this at a time when capital markets were essentially closed to Latin companies. She created and led the first advisory group to provide support and advice to Latin companies in private debt restructuring. She devised the first return to the global debt and equity markets by Latin companies. She led the team for the largest M&A defense takeover at the time. In one of her most famous "firsts", Violy created and implemented the iconic strategy in which a national softdrink bottler switched brands overnight from Pepsi to Coca Cola, which she subsequently merged with Panamco creating the largest global Coca Cola bottler in the world at the time.
Prior to establishing Violy & Co., she founded Violy, Byorum & Partners (VB&P) in 1996. The first boutique headed by two women focused principally on Latin American and Ibero-American mergers and acquistions, while still incorporating projects in the US and Canada. Prior to VB&P, in 1990 she served as a Partner at James D. Wolfensohn Inc. (the former President of the World Bank), and developed the firm’s Latin American practice. Her success was acclaimed in 1995 by Global Finance, which named her its Latin American Superstar. Mrs. McCausland-Seve started her career at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in 1978, where she rose to become Managing Director in less than six years, leading the Latin American Restructuring Advisory, Latin American Credit Analysis and finally, JPMorgan's Global Mergers & Acquisitions department.
Mrs. McCausland-Dieppa has served on the Investment Committee of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, The New York Latin Media & Entertainment Committee, The Board of The City Center, The Board of Advisors at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Board of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. She was a Director of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce’s Northeast Chapter. She was a founder of the Millennium board for Colombia’s former President, Andres Pastrana, and the former President, Alvaro Uribe. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Carnegie Council, Casita Maria, she is the President of the North American Chapter of UN Sponsored Women Together, and serves on the board of Pamar.
Additionally, Mrs. McCausland-Dieppa has been awarded a Fulbright Honor, the Casita Maria Gold Medal, the AID for AIDS My Hero Award, the Women Together Award, and received a recognition by the former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo for her contribution in the Council of Advisors for the Mexican-American Culture, and an AESE recognition for her training of young people in finance.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
MATÍAS CORTÉS DOMÍNGUEZ - QEDP
Founding Partner and Chairman of CORTÉS, ABOGADOS.
Mr. Cortes Dominguez holds a Law degree from the University of Granada, Doctor of Law, University of Bologna (Italy). He has served as a Professor of Political Economy and Public Finance and Professor of Financial Law and Tax Law at the University Granada, Professor of Financial Law and Tax Law at the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid, and Professor of Financial Law and Tax Law at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid.
He is the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Civitas, Journal of Financial Law and Taxation and a Member of the Board of Trustees of various cultural foundations.
He is the author of various books and legal manuals. Mr. Cortes Dominguez is also a Member of the Board of Directors of various companies.
Since 1970 he has practiced law in Spain, the U.S. and Latin America. He has led teams of lawyers in major conflicts and disputes, as well as advised on legal and strategic issues for banks and large business groups.
Mr. Cortes Dominguez speaks Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
Len Schutzman
Len Schutzman retired in 2011 after serving more than twenty five years in senior executive positions at Pepsico, including senior Vice President & Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi Cola International and Chief Financial Officer of Frito Lay and Taco Bell.. He is the founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Schutzman Center For Entrepreneurship At Queens College and The Career Reediness Institute. He is an advisor and Limited Partner in Evercore Capital Partners, L.P. And is Executive Professor of Business Administration at the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business. Mr. Schutzman is a senior advisor to Biotechnology Company. Leading Edge Microbial and has served on the Boards of Directors of Cendant, Resources Connection, Twin Labs and Rochester Community Savings Bank. He is a graduate of Queens College (B.A;, 1967) and the University of Rochester ( MBA, 1969). He is the author of Amazon best selling book, “Fast Task Up The Corporate Ladder: The 8 Step Guide To Turbo Charge Your Career.”
BEATRICE E. RANGEL
An accomplished international business executive with broad based expertise in entertainment services. Through several decades analyzing, developing negotiating and implementing short and long-term entertainment strategies, she has acquired an in-depth knowledge on entertainment content, distribution vehicles; production techniques and successful operating practices. This expertise is strengthened by a profound understanding of the regulatory framework enveloping entertainment services in the Americas. Prior to her corporate career, Ms Rangel served in Venezuela as Minister of the Secretariat during the Presidency of Carlos Andrés Perez. Milestones for her corporate career include: Chief Strategist for the Cisneros Group of Companies and Institutional Relations Director for Codere S.A. as well as CEO of Codere Argentina and Codere Mexico. Ms. Rangel, a U.S. citizen, maintains strong government and business contacts throughout the Americas region.
V&Co TEAM
Rodolfo Moseres-diepPa
Senior Advisor
New England educated in Business with a Masters in Law and Diplomacy (Boston University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy), with living experience in half a dozen world cities, Rodolfo has an Extensive career in International Trade and Investment Advisory. He has occupied positions from trade negotiator in Geneva to the World Trade Organization, to Trade Advisor to several Colombian Ministers including President Juan Manuel Santos. For President Alvaro Uribe he was the key person in Canada to promote and obtain a Free Trade Agreement and promote Canadian direct investments where he pioneered the attraction of Canadian Banks, Airlines, Private Equity and Pension Funds’ investments into Colombia. For Violy he has participated in restructuring capital and procuring investments in sectors such as renewable energy generation projects in Brazil, Spain, United States and Canada. As a Founding partner at EQ Foundation in Toronto he promotes economic development projects that takes into consideration four key elements including Cultural, Social, Environmental and Economic indicators, which must remain in equilibrium to achieve the highest possible results, while upholding the dignity and independence of the communities he works with.Rodolfo, in essence is a seasoned Diplomat-Trade and Investment Warrior with a passion for Philanthropy contributing his experience with a strong foothold in Canada to Violy as a Senior Advisor.
CARLOS E. DIEPPA
Senior Advisor
Thirty years of international experience in consumer goods market strategies, channel development and brand management. Track record of implementing global projects and delivering efficiencies through operational improvements.
He was President of Latin America for Mars Inc. and, as a member of the global management team, was leading the strategy for the Global Dog portfolio and its digital transformation. He had been a General Manager in Brazil, where he led a business transformation that doubled the business and expanded into other segments within the pet food category. He opened the Andino region after joining Mars Caribbean and Central America in Puerto Rico, where the company is the leader in chocolate, gum and sugar confections.
He started his career in Unilever PLC as a Graduate Trainee after graduating in Business at Universidad Javeriana. Has a Master’s in Strategic Marketing from the CESA business school and did the Stanford Strategy and Organization. Fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
ELIZABETH COHEN (Gloria rendon)
Director
Gloria has an extensive experience in the LATAM and New York Real Estate markets where she has secured financing for more than 26 projects totaling over 7,5 million square feet and values over a billion dollars. Among her expertise and portfolio management in the RE market she has an ample range of projects starting with residential, commercial, industrial zone, hospitality and infrastructure.
Her expertise in the financial sector also encloses traditional financing, as well as with local and international hedge funds, capital markets and ultra-high end family offices. She has a deep understanding of the Real Estate market, valuation and investment are her forte. Her financial expertise is essential to developing and investing in the RE market today.
William ALAIN LAraque
Senior Advisor
William Alain Laraque started his banking career as a quality control analyst at Irving Trust Company in 1976. During the course of this assignment, William surveyed the entire international division of what was one of the world's largest correspondent banks and made recommendations for operational improvements. After being credit trained, William became the first American business development officer at Fuji Bank New York, where he learned and applied trade finance techniques with U.S. Fortune 1000 companies doing business in Japan.
This experience led to William being recruited to start Chemical Bank's International Banking Center on Long Island, New York. William led this operation for 6 years during which he drove the fee income of the bank to record levels.
A former U.S. Marine embarkation trained logistics officer, William utilized his corporate banking knowledge during this time and since to broaden his expertise in the related subjects of international logistics, cash management and international business.
William then headed the international banking center of HSBC on Long Island where he led a team that developed the most business as did any similar team of this major global bank.
William was recruited by the U.S. federal government to be the Business Development Officer for the Export-Import Bank of the United States, in 2006, where he developed significant business with exporters located in the six contiguous states of New England.
William retired from the U.S. Ex-Im Bank in 2009. He is the Managing Director of US-International Trade Services and serves as an advisor to Violy & Co. on matters related to international business and international trade finance.
William has a B.A. in comparative government from St. John's University, NY and an M.S./MBA from the Marshall Graduate School the University of Southern California. William is a licensed Property and Casualty insurance broker. Also William taught international business as assistant professor at Hofstra University for 7 years and taught international business and logistics in the same capacity at Baruch College for 3 years.
William is a prolific writer. He has written the U.S. Commerce's Basic Guide to Trade Finance and has written over 2,000 articles on international business subjects in a variety of international trade publications.
William is an avid bicyclist, fisherman. He is a devotee of classical music and is an art lover with a special affection for the impressionists.
ALVARO MIRANDA
Partner Madrid, Spain Office
Mr. Miranda is currently manager partner of the Violy & Co. office in Madrid, Spain. Alvaro has a vast experience in successfully leading the development and execution of International Operations in several multinational corporations from different sectors. He has participated on major M&A transactions for more than 20 years.
After graduating from Law School, he worked for the Chamber of Commerce in Lorca, Spain, where he developed and lead the company’s internationalization. Mr. Miranda then started working for one of the subsidiaries of the Japanese Group “Kirin”, developing worldwide projects in the area of Bio agriculture. As part of the Global Exchange Financing Group, he was in charge of creating and developing the Mexican subsidiary, and later on he was promoted as Chief Operating Officer and successfully led the expansion of the company worldwide. His sectors of expertise are infrastructure, finance, real estate and food and beverage. Mr. Miranda has accumulated a wealth of experience performing financial analysis, due diligence and negotiation of projects, as well as the development of Private Equities.
He has been a Counselor to various Business Groups and is a Member of the Committee of Spanish Residents in Mexico. Mr. Miranda holds a Law Degree from the Complutense University of Madrid, a Master in International Trade from the ENAE Business School and an MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid. He played for the Spanish National Rugby Team.
CARLOS TORRESCANO
Partner, Mexico
Carlos Torrescano, Mexican national and Violy Global Group LLC partner, has 44 years of experience in the International Business Market since graduating from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Méjico in Accounting and Business Administration.
One of his personal achievements was contracting a loan for US40 million dollars with a Standby Letter of Credit with Merrill Lynch in 1993, and another for US$33 million dollars with Banco Inverlat SA, both of which had a fiduciary trust structure never seen before in Mexico at the time.
In 1993 he closes the first Joint Venture Risk Capital between US investors and a Mexican group for a housing and infrastructure development called Porticos de La Mesa in Tijuana Baja California.
During the past few years he has been a financial consultant in the areas of restructuring, financial capitals, mortgages and risk management both for the private and government sectors in Mexico.
Actually, he is a Senior Partner in the firm Torrescano Bohorquez & Associates, and an Advisor for the sectors of Housing and Infrastructure, Construction, Hospitality and Tourism Services in his country.
MATÍAS CORTÉS RIVAS
Senior Advisor
Lawyer specialized in Land Development Law at Cortés Abogados ( www.cortes-abogados.com ) . Member of the Colegio de Abogados de Madrid 1997- 2004
Founder and CEO de 31 Grupo Inmobiliario España since 2004 , company dedicated to land banking in Spain. This company sold all of its assets to Inveravante (www.inveravante.com ) on December 2006. From 2007 to the date, CEO of 31 Grupo Inmobiliario México, land banking company in Mexico with important investments in Baja California Sur. From October 2013 to the date Matías Cortés has an association with Gabriel Maldonado ( www.grupogmp.com.mx ) . Together they have accomplished a number of important real estate developments in Mexico including , Tabasco Diamante ( www.tabascodiamante.com.mx) , Novalta Medical ( www.novaltamedical.com.mx), Aramara Los Cabos, Aramara Miramar.
Educated at Worth School in Crawley , West Sussex, has a bachelor in Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a degree in Law by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
LUCIA Skwarek
Senior Advisor
Lucia has known and worked with Violy, since 1984. She has been a consultant to hedge funds, private equity and corporate finance in global emerging markets equity since 2012, including Violy & Co. Previously, she worked at Chesapeake Asset Management where she was responsible for co-managing portfolio investments for foundations and endowments. From 2008-10, she was an Investment Officer for Fintech Advisory, a private hedge fund, and from 2004-2008, she was the founder and principal of the Greylock Emerging Market Equity Fund.
From 2001-2004, she worked with VB&P as a consultant to develop their private equity business., after 13 years at JPMorgan as head of em equity proprietary trading (1998-2001)., as well as Head Trader of Emerging Markets Equity (1991-1995), and Head trader of local and external debt of Mexico, Chile and Poland (1989-1991), and Investment banker Mexico City (1984-1989), covered various industries and corporations, member of the committee to restructure Mexican private sector debt. From 1995-1998, she ran the Latin American Equity Group at UBS.
EduaRDO FERNANDEZ LOPEZ
Business Development
Eduardo Fernández is business development officer at Violy&Co, a role he has held since joining the firm in mid-2016. In his eight years of professional experience, Mr. Fernández has been not only a passionate corporate lawyer, but an entrepreneur himself, becoming involved in multi-industry projects, and leading teams of different backgrounds to success.
Mr. Fernández was an associate at the boutique corporate law office of Dr. Francisco Reyes Villamizar, where he handled, among others, legal opinions regarding sophisticated corporate transactions and issues, as well as drafting taylor-made shareholders agreements, corporate governance schemes, among others, for Fortune 100 Companies in Colombia and from abroad. Mr. Fernández also was engaged in research for scholarly articles, as well as contributed highly to the update of the Treatise on Corporate Law published by Dr. Reyes prestigious practice.
After working at Dr. Reyes' office, Mr. Fernández engaged in Mergers and Acquisitions practice at Posse Herrera Ruiz, where, among others, he drafted syndicated loan contracts, shareholders agreements, administrative requirements, board of director's meeting minutes, and share purchase agreements for Colombia's most important and renowned transactions. Mr. Fernández also handled the General Secretariat of Fortune 100 Companies in Colombia and from abroad.
In 2014, Mr. Fernández was appointed President of his family companies, in transportation and logistics. He exceeded expectations and engaged in value-added transactions that gave his family companies outstanding returns in the following years. During this time, he negotiated with banks, from Colombia and the U.S. in a syndicated loan transaction, first of its kind in transportation and logistics in Colombia. In two years, Mr. Fernández consolidated his family company, and led investment activities in a "Uber" of Freight, IntelliFreight, and brought in one of the partners in the largest taxi transportation startup in Colombia to become CEO. This software is being sold to the largest distributor of petroleum and derivates in Colombia.
Among other projects, Mr. Fernández has engaged in FinTech, where his startup "ClipClap" was awarded the prize at BBVA Open Talent 2016 in Mexico. Abyll, his second FinTech as a serial entrepreneur, a bill-payment solution, will have its soft launch in February, 2017. He has also engaged in business in a chain of pharmacies, and other companies that have made an attractive portfolio of investment for himself and his family.
From mid-2016, Mr. Fernández accepted Violy's invitation to become Business Development Officer, a position that has been highly instrumental for Mr. Fernández' corporate goals. Mr. Fernandez, also, participates in Board Memberships for four companies in Colombia and one company in the U.S., and is a member of ANDI del Futuro, a youth organization for entrepreneurs in Colombia. He plays squash, golf, and speaks English, Spanish and French, with fluency, as well as basic Mandarin.
Sylvia mccausland
COO
Sylvia McCausland studied Education at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. She worked at the English company Tobacco Exporters, Inc, where she handled Client Relations and organized all equestrian events on behalf of the Dunhill Corporation, UK until April 1980. In May 1980 she went to work as an Assistant to the President of Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Colombia, a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Due to her fluid language skills in French, English and Spanish she organized Medical Symposiums in Colombia and abroad. Sylvia assisted the President in all his personal communications with the medical community. She then worked at Colegio Karl C. Parrish in Barranquilla as Head of the Technology Department. In October of 2007 she joined Violy & Company where she holds the position of Chief Operating Officer