WorldCity Business Magazine

(9) WorldCity People

by WC

CCAA – Anton Edmunds picked to head Caribbean Central American Action

Anton Edmunds, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Caribbean Central American Action, was selected by the CCAA board to head up the management of the organization, following the departure of Manuel Rosales, the president and CEO.

Edmunds, who will retain his current title, has been with the organization for a decade, serving as director of marketing,
director of programs, deputy executive director and executive director.

CCAA is a non-governmental organization that promotes private sector-led economic development in the Caribbean Basin. The organization has taken a leadership position on maritime security and trade, regional competitiveness and energy policy in the region. Miami has hosted the annual CCAA conference for the past 31 years.

MEDIA – Jose Tolosa joins MTV Latin America

MTV Networks Latin America named Jose Tolosa vice president of strategy and business development. Tolosa is responsible for business development across all the companys brands in Latin America MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite and VH1 as well as developing the companys long-term business plans. Based in Miami, Tolosa reports to Scot McBride, executive vice president and COO for MTV Networks Latin America.

Prior to joining MTV, Tolosa was senior president and COO at the HNMA Funding Co. Before that, he was a principal at The Parthenon Group, a Boston-based consulting firm, where he advised a number of companies on strategic issues, particularly within the financial services industry.

From 1997-2002, Tolosa dealt exclusively within Latin America, initially as a financial analyst for Bear Stearns, then as the assistant VP of the corporate finance department for Claxson Interactive Group, a Latin American multi-media entertainment company based in Buenos Aires. A native of Puerto Rico, Tolosa holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a bachelors degree in finance and accounting from Georgetown University.

LAW – Holland & Knight taps John Hogan to head national team

John Hogan, a Miami partner in the global law firm Holland & Knight was appointed co-chair of the firms national White Collar Defense Team. He will lead a team of more than 50 lawyers and professionals who are experienced in corporate compliance programs, internal investigations, anti-money laundering laws and compliance, and white collar defense.

Hogan is also chair of Holland & Knights South Florida Litigation Practice Group, which includes offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Hogan has represented corporate clients in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings involving health care fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, environmental crime and Foreign Corrupt Practice Act issues.

Prior to joining the firm, Hogan spent 20 years as a prosecutor, including serving as chief of staff to the Attorney General of the U.S. He also served as chief assistant state attorney for Miami-Dade County and as Floridas first statewide prosecutor.

Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,150 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices, as well as offices in Beijing and Mexico City, and representative offices in Caracas and Tel Aviv.

LEADERSHIP – Nubielena Medina chairs Doral Business Council

The Doral Business Council selected Nubielena Medina, principal of NMG Consulting, a communications, public relations and branding firm, as the organizations 2008 chairperson. City of Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez also appointed Medina to his first International Business Affairs Advisory Board.

The DBC was established in 2004 to attract businesses to the Doral area. Medina, a founding member of the DBC, was a senior corporate communications specialist at Visa International, with responsibility for the Latin American and Caribbean region. Her goal is to develop strategic contacts and programs that will benefit all DBC members.

ETIQUETTE – IBC of Florida names Elena Brouwer Ambassador at Large

The International Business Council of Florida awarded the title of Ambassador at Large of Commerce for Florida to Elena Brouwer, Director and CEO (Certified Etiquette Officer) of the International Etiquette Center.

Brouwer, an internationally recognized etiquette and protocol expert, certified by the prestigious Protocol School of Washington D.C., has developed customized etiquette, international protocol, and personal image programs to fit the diverse needs of her clientele. She has helped professionals, international organizations and Fortune 500 companies become more successful by polishing up the image, business and social skills. The International Etiquette Centre provides etiquette and protocol services to companies, educational organizations and individuals worldwide.

LAW – Diaz & Reus opens Shanghai office, hires Adam Ehrlich

The Miami-based international law firm Diaz & Reus announced that it will open an office in Shanghai, China. The firm named Adam Ehrlich, to head the new Shanghai operation.

Ehrlich has more than nine years of legal experience with a concentration in international business. Prior to joining Diaz & Reus, Ehrlich was Of Counsel to Concord & Co., a Shanghai-based law firm. He was also an associate at Lehman, Lee & Xus Shanghai office. Both firms are China-licensed law firms specializing in foreign investment. Ehrlich assisted Chinese companies on U.S. legal matters and counseled foreign companies on the development and protection of their China investments.

Prior to private practice, Ehrlich was an assistant attorney general in the Antitrust Division of the Florida Attorney Generals Office. Ehrlich earned his Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas
University School of Law in 1998. He also holds a bachelor degree in finance from Florida International University and an MBA from Florida State University.

Diaz & Reus has offices in Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The firms lawyers focus on business, commercial, corporate, foreign trade and financial transactions, alternative
dispute resolution/mediation and arbitration, and regulatory, civil and white collar criminal litigation matters.

AVIATION – Roberto Cuesta appointed sales and marketing chief at Martinair

Dutch airline Martinair appointed Roberto Cuesta as their new director of passenger sales and marketing for the Americas. Martinair is a full-service passenger and cargo airline that provides scheduled and chartered flights globally. Its Americas division recently moved to Doral from Boca Raton.

Cuesta began his career at British Airways as a marketing executive and customer service agent, moving up to marketing manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. He later went on to be marketing manager at Lan Chile and Sportsya.com. This was followed by seven years at South African Airways as vice president of marketing for the Americas.

Before joining Martinair, Cuesta was account manager for The New York Times. Cuesta has an MBA in Accounting, from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in communications, advertising, political science from the University of Miami.

LEADERSHIP – CAMACOL awards Luis Lauredo Order of Merit

CAMACOL, the Latin Chamber of Commerce of USA, honored former Ambassador Luis Lauredo, now a senior consultant with the Miami law firm Hunton & Williams, with the CAMACOL Order of Merit. He was cited for his career as an international public servant and his efforts in furthering the process of free trade.

The CAMACOL Order of Merit is an annual award that was instituted last year to honor individuals and organizations that stand out in their efforts to increase international commerce in Latin American countries. Last year, there were 16 recipients, most of whom were presidents of Latin Chambers of Commerce. Lauredo served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States, as well as the U.S. Coordinator for the III Presidential Summit of the Americas, the gathering of the 34 elected heads of state in this hemisphere held in Quebec City in April 2001. He also served as Executive Director of the first Summit of the Americas, held in Miami in December 1994 and as the Executive Director for the Free Trade Area of the Americas Trade Ministerial held in Miami in November 2003.

EXECUTIVE SEARCH – Paul Gregg and Steve Bartley launch regional office for Boyden

Boyden Global Executive Search unveiled its new Americas Desk to support cross-regional executive search and recruiting throughout the Americas.

According to Miami-based Boyden Managing Director Paul Gregg and Director Steven Bartley, the new desk will attract companies seeking key multinational talent directly in the region and at their regional headquarters locations.

With Boyden offices already in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, the Miami Boyden Americas Desk will serve as a regional coordination point for business to and from Latin America, Europe and the growing Asian business.

In addition, with over 1,000 multinational headquartered firms in South Florida, the Americas Desk will work with local leadership to support a pan-regional approach to executive search, recruiting and retention of critical leadership talent. Boyden, founded in 1946, is a global player in the executive search industry with more than 70 offices in 40 countries.