Can you tell us a little about your most significant accomplishments and projects, as a team or by yourself in your role, recently?

The role I perform as legal advisor in Bolivia requires the supervision and management of several areas. First, judicial collection, where I have developed the internal control and compliance policies for credit sales, and further control in cases of judicial collection, lowering costs and important risks for the company, from sales operations, using legal tools for document control and generation of documents. Today, Finning Bolivia, has an efficient credit sales process, day by day legal advice, and a healthy portfolio of accounts in permanent control.

Second, on dispute resolution, our company has not been spared from having to participate in legal conflicts of relevant amounts, among which I highlight a commercial arbitration carried in the Chamber of Commerce of Cochabamba, in which our defence resulted in a reduction of more than 60% of the amount demanded.

Third, on compliance, Finning’s Bolivian branch, being consistent with its compliance policy, maintains a rigid internal and contracting protocol that does not tolerate corruption or disloyal practices. It has been an arduous undertaking, considering the domestic judicial system, but we have met the goal and, year after year, my department assumes a greater commitment to improve our standard, which has become one of our strengths.

What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about and why?

Thanks to Finning practices, the entire Bolivian crew, came to realize the importance of a diversity and inclusion program in the broadest sense. You can only benefit from being a truly inclusive company that cares about its community, at the level of minorities and individuals, and from being open to new ideas and to allow all to participate in the construction of a better future. The time when companies were archaic entities that did not take part in positive social change is over. Today it is imperative that companies commit to causes against social inequality, among others. Companies are an important part of society and must assume that role, for the good of everyone.

The future of business activity lies in sustainability, and the improvement of the environment. It has become essential to reduce our carbon footprint, to opt for clean and renewable energies and, beyond respecting our forests and jungles, to seek ways to increase them. Individual acts do have an effect and it is up to each one of us.

How is your legal team planning to contribute to the growth and expansion of your organisation, over the next few months?

We plan on focusing on our compliance program, as a preventive measure to avoid conflicts and controversies that represent losses of time and other resources. We believe in strengthening the steps that make up the internal sales procedure, to ensure profit, as well as on early warnings, to anticipate client default and, therefore, avoid their transfer to the judicial portfolio, as part of a client focus strategy.