WorldCity Business Magazine

(4) WorldCity People

by WC

BURGER KING – Julio Ramirez named executive vice president, global operations

Julio Ramirez, seen here on the August cover of WORLDCITY, was appointed executive vice president of global operations at Burger King Corp., reporting to CEO John Chidsey. Ramirez replaces Jim Hyatt, who has left the company to become president and CEO of Cosi, an emerging national convenience restaurant chain.

Ramirez, a 23-year Burger King veteran, ran the Latin American and Caribbean division for the past 14 years. In his new role, he will oversee issues related to process, equipment and technology in more than 11,200 restaurants in all 50 states and 69 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. Ramirez has held several key positions at Burger King. He served two years as senior vice president of franchise operations and development, responsible for the management of franchise operations in the United States and Canada, as well as company operations in Canada. Earlier in his career, he worked in several positions in marketing and operations, serving as director of field marketing for the U.S. and director of field promotions for the Southeast region. prior to joining Burger King in 1984, Ramirez worked with Xerox, Southern Bell Telephone and AT&T Information Systems.

SOFTWARE – Hernan Rincon named president of Microsoft Latin America

Hernan Rincon was named president of Microsoft Latin America, responsible for sales, marketing and services in the region. He replaces Eugenio Beaufrand. Before the promotion, Rincon served as the sales and marketing vice president for Microsoft Latin America.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Rincon was president and CEO of Ferag Americas, a Swiss company specializing in state-of-the-art high-tech solutions for the printed media industry, and served as the president and CEO of Cocelco, a cellular technology provider of telecommunications products and services. Rincon also worked 11 years for Unisys, where he held several positions at the companys global headquarters, including CIO and vice president for the Worldwide Financial Services group.

A Harvard graduate, Rincon holds a Masters degree from the Kennedy School, where he also was an Edward S.Mason Fellow. He received a Master of Science in industrial engineering from Andes University and a BA in mathematics and computer science from New York State University, where he graduated top of his class. Rincon has been honored with numerous awards, including the Gerson B. Robison award for Excellence in Mathematics by New York State University.

BUSINESS CONSULTING – Eugene Rostov launches consulting business

After 38 years at the international law form of Baker & McKenzie, Eugene Rostov decided it was time to strike out on his own. His new company, which offers business consulting in the areas of cross-border consulting, privatizations and joint ventures, is called E. Rostov & Associates and is located in Coral Gables. When asked who his associates are, Rostov refers to his large rolodex of contacts all over the world that he accumulated during nearly four decades at B&M.

Rostov is already working on several projects involving clients and potential partners in Brazil, India and China. One of the biggest opportunities he sees is matchmaking between owners of undeveloped deposits of iron ore and copper in Brazil and Peru, and investors from India and China, countries that are hungry for Latin American mineral resources.

Rostov spent 14 years at the Sao Paulo office of Baker & McKenzie, before opening B&Ms Miami office. He has a BA from Oberlin College in Ohio and a law degree from Columbia Law School, as well as an MBA from INSEAD in France, an LLB from Brazils MacKenzie University and an LLM in taxation from the University of Miami.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE – Honors for Broward international trade leaders Diana Wasserman-Rubin and Carlos Buqueras

Broward County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin, a strong proponent of international trade, and Port Everglades Business Development Director Carlos Buqueras were honored as exemplary Hispanic business achievers during the 3rd Annual Diamantes of South Florida Gala in mid-September. In addition, Commissioner Wasserman-Rubin was presented with the George Jimenez Award for Public Service. Carlos Buqueras, a 17-year veteran of Port Everglades, was recognized for his marketing expertise that has been instrumental in Port Everglades success as a national leader in containerized cargo and the cruise industry. Buqueras is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to attract cargo and cruise line business, as well as developing international markets. Buqueras also oversees the ports corporate and community relations section, responsible for the seaports public relations and marketing activities.

Commissioner Wasserman-Rubin was the first Hispanic-American to serve as Broward County Mayor in 2002. She was also the first Hispanic-American elected to the Broward County board of County Commissioners in 2000. She was the first Hispanic-American to serve on the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners and the first female to serve as Chair of the Board. In addition, she is the first Hispanic-American to be inducted into the Womens Hall of Fame.

PUBLIC RELATIONS – Tia Diaz-Balart back at Gordon Reyes

Tia Diaz-Balart rejoined public relations firm Gordon Reyes & Company as vice president. She will manage the firms marketing and business development activities as well as oversee strategy and day-to-day services for the firms clients in the health and environmental services sectors including HealthCare.com, a consumer healthcare Internet site and the American Biofuels Council, a Florida-based national organization promoting greater use of alternative fuels.

Diaz-Balart first joined the firm in 1994 following service on the staff of the Summit of the Americas in Miami. For several years she was based in the firms Boca Raton office and managed communications programs for an array of clients. From 1999 to 2005, Diaz-Balart was a national account marketing manager with Hewlett-Packard.

Founded in 1989, Gordon Reyes & Company represents clients from all sectors but has greatest experience in the worlds of international business marketing, real estate development, technology, entertainment, healthcare and the environment. Diaz-Balarts husband, U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, was a partner in the firm, then called Gordon Diaz-Balart, from 1993 until his election to Congress in 2002.

BANKING – Roxana Jimenez and Jorge Scerpella added to roster at International Bank of Miami

The International Bank of Miami named Roxana Jimenez vice president of the Executive Banking Group and Jorge Scerpella assistant vice president of the Credit Administration Division. Jimenez, who has 14 years of experience in the South Florida banking industry, will be responsible for developing new banking relationships with professionals, entrepreneurs and high-level executives in South Florida. Prior to joining TIBOM, Jimenez was a vice president and retail lending lead with Great Florida Bank in Miami. She holds a bachelors degree in business administration from FIU.

Meanwhile, Jorge Scerpellas new responsibilities will include credit analysis for the banks commercial lending activities. Before coming to TIBOM, Scerpella was vice president of commercial underwriting with Plus International Bank in Miami. Scerpella holds an MBA from FIU and a BA in finance and accounting from Boston College.

The International Bank of Miami, headquartered in Coral Gables, is one of the largest independent banks in South Florida. Since 1964, it has provided services to clients in Florida, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The banks core business is commercial and real estate lending, personal financial services and correspondent banking.