Team size: Six

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

One particularly unique and formative experience in my career was being selected to join the first global cohort of Holcim’s Mastering Legal and Compliance executive program at the University of St. Gallen (HSG), Executive School, Law & Management. The program brought together 26 senior legal and compliance leaders from 22 countries, creating a truly global and multidisciplinary learning environment.

What made this experience especially distinctive was its strong focus on positioning Legal & Compliance as a strategic business partner. Through an intensive curriculum covering business strategy and customer orientation, financial acumen, valuation, M&A, advanced negotiation, communication and risk and crisis management. The program reinforced the evolving role of in-house legal teams as enablers of responsible growth and long-term value creation, rather than solely risk controllers.

Equally impactful was the opportunity to collaborate with peers from diverse legal systems, cultures, and business contexts. The exchange of perspectives and best practices strengthened my ability to navigate complex, cross-border challenges and fostered a global network that continues to support collaboration across the organisation.

This experience not only deepened my leadership capabilities but also reaffirmed my commitment to leveraging legal expertise to advance sustainability, innovation, and ethical business practices—fully aligned with the company´s NextGen Growth 2030 strategy.

How does your team contribute to the overall business strategy of the company? Can you share an example of a recent legal-led initiative that had a significant impact?

Our legal team plays a strategic role in enabling the company’s growth, sustainability agenda, and risk management by transforming regulatory complexity into business opportunities. We work closely with the business to anticipate regulatory developments, design compliant operational models, and structure strategic partnerships that support long-term value creation.

A recent example of a high-impact, legal-led initiative was the development and implementation of Ecuador’s first regulatory authorisation for the industrial use of treated wastewater. The legal team led the regulatory strategy and engagement with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, working alongside public authorities and private partners to design a legally sound, precedent-setting framework aligned with national environmental policy and business objectives.

This regulatory milestone was part of a broader industrial symbiosis strategy through the structuring of cross-sector alliances with key partners nationwide. Through these partnerships, the company achieved a 30% reduction in potable water consumption in concrete production and a 36% reduction in water consumption at the Guayaquil plant, while securing the country’s first national permit for the use of treated wastewater in concrete—an unprecedented step for the industry.

Beyond water stewardship, the legal team has supported the development of circular-economy and biodiversity initiatives aligned with the company’s long-term strategy. These includes enabling Ecuador’s first construction and demolition waste recycling pilot plant in Pifo, the country’s first industrial municipal waste-sorting facility converting waste into clean energy.

Equally central to our strategy is our people. The legal team actively supports governance, labor, and compliance frameworks that promote equity, inclusion, and talent development. In 2025, Holcim Ecuador achieved 43% female representation on the Executive Committee and 37% women in leadership roles, launched the Women in Operations program to promote technical careers in industrial mechanics, and contributed to the training of more than 2,400 future professionals through the Holcim Academy for Sustainable Construction.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how legal leadership, regulatory certainty, strategic partnerships, and a people-centered approach can drive sustainable growth, unlock innovation, and generate lasting environmental and social impact.