Professional Summary

María Mercedes Ribero is a dedicated and dynamic legal professional with over two decades of experience, specialising in commercial law, corporate law, and consumer protection. Her career reflects a consistent progression from early legal roles to her current leadership position, where she serves as Legal & Compliance Director at Southbay, Nike’s official distributor.

Mercedes holds a Law degree from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), complemented by extensive postgraduate studies, including a Master’s degree in Business Law and a specialisation in Law and Technology from UADE. Additionally, she holds an International Certification in Ethics and Compliance from UCEMA, underscoring her commitment to responsible governance and ethical business practices.

Career Overview & Key Achievements

Her professional journey began with an internship at León Barreto & García, where she handled administrative tasks, drafted legal briefs, and attended consumer protection hearings. She then advanced to a legal role at Levy Guido & Levy, focusing on consumer protection and fair trading regulations.

From 2008 to 2013, Mercedes worked as an attorney at Romero Zapiola, Clusellas & Sluga, where she provided high-level corporate legal advice to major national and international clients. During this period, she also spent a year as in-house legal counsel for Nike, an experience that paved the way for her future leadership in the company.

In 2013, she formally joined Nike, initially as Southern Cone Senior Legal Manager, overseeing legal operations across Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile for over nine years. She was later promoted to Senior Legal Manager, and in October 2022, she assumed her current role as Legal & Compliance Director at Southbay, leading legal and compliance strategy across multiple markets.

Professional Skills & Affiliations

Mercedes is a member of the Bar Association of the City of Buenos Aires and the Argentine Association of Ethics and Compliance. She is also an active member of Women in Compliance (WiC) Argentina and the Women Corporate Directors (WCD) Argentina Chapter, where she contributes to promoting gender equity and leadership within the legal and corporate sectors.

Fluent in Spanish and with advanced English proficiency, Mercedes brings a global perspective to her work. Her career is marked by a strong foundation in regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and legal risk management, and she is known for her integrity, strategic thinking, and ability to align legal frameworks with broader business objectives.