Career Biography

José Ricardo Sánchez Escobar is a legal professional with more than 38 years of uninterrupted experience in the Salvadoran financial system, specialising in banking law, corporate governance and regulatory compliance. He has demonstrated experience in leading legal matters for the Salvadoran financial conglomerate Davivienda, the successful management of complex litigation and leadership of senior executive management teams on issues of comprehensive risk and crisis management, product development and financial processes. His focus is on risk mitigation, talent development, and building an ethical and healthy organisational climate.

As chief legal officer and head of corporate governance and regulatory compliance at Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño, a role I have held since October 1987, I lead the legal affairs of the Salvadoran Davivienda Financial Group, which includes the Bank, Seguros Comerciales Bolívar, Valores Davivienda (Casa de Corredores de Bolsa), and Davivienda Servicios. My role has been developed through a career in banking law, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and banking policies, covering the stages of Banco Salvadoreño and Banco HSBC Salvadoreño.

I am responsible for areas of corporate governance, regulatory compliance and legal and regulatory affairs, including the Directorate of Legal Affairs, overseeing litigation, guarantees, financial products, and regulatory permits.

I advise senior executive management on law, compliance, sustainability, comprehensive risk and crisis management issues, as well as advising on regulatory authorisation processes for financial transactions, successfully implemented within the framework of banking policies.

Litigation achievements include the management of several successfully concluded litigations.

Other practice areas include corporate specialisation: I lead the banking and corporate department of the conglomerate, with a specialty in banking law, corporate law and M&A, as well as aspects of competition and labour law.

Key contributions include organisational development, such as the construction of high-performance teams and personnel development, as well as the implementation of strategies for risk mitigation and the development of processes and new products. Strengthening shareholder confidence has been another achievement, cementing confidence in banking lawyers and, fundamentally, the confidence of the institution’s shareholders.

Another focus area includes the development and elaboration of codes of ethics, corporate governance and corporate culture, creating a healthy organisational environment and climate.

I also serve as proprietary director of the Board of Directors (as of March 2025) at Sociedad Servicio Salvadoreño de Proteccion, S.A. de C.V. (SERSAPROSA); director secretary of the Board of Directors at ACH, Administrator and Operator of Electronic Payments; second alternate director at Sociedad Servicios Financieros, S.A. de C.V. (SERFINSA); legal representative at the Judicial and Administrative in Labor Matters of the Davivienda Financial Conglomerate.

Previous positions include former member of Boards of Directors (Deposit Guarantee Institute, Sugar Mills, Hotels, Paper Mills) and former president of the Legal Committee of the Salvadoran Banking Association (ABANSA).