RAMON J.

LEON
rl3f7a34@westpost.net
5C La Riviera, Columbus Circle, West Moorings, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West I
ndies Tel : 868-795-9395
SUMMARY - International Banker with extensive experience throughout the Latin Am
erican marketplace with in-country living/working experience in Trinidad & Tobag
o, Mexico and Brazil. Effective in starting up operations, skilled in sourcing,
leading, structuring and executing complex transactions including negotiation, d
etailed due diligence, credit risk management and portfolio management. Collabo
rative business style with the ability to lead and motivate cross functional tea
ms in diverse cultures.
Market Development Structured Trade Finance
Product Management Debt Restructuring
Relationship Management Capital Markets Structuring
Profitable P & L Experience Wealth Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTER (TTIFC), POS, TRINIDAD
2010-PRESENT
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - Create and staff the organizational structure required
to accomplish the goals and mission of the TTIFC, which is to be a gateway for
investments in Latin America and the Caribbean as a globally recognized regional
financial center. TTIFC's primary business lines focus will initially consist
of: Capital Markets Activities; Commodities Trading; Reinsurance Brokerage Activ
ities; International Wholesale and Retail Credit Operations; Back Office Operati
ons. Management responsibilities include: business development, human resources,
ICT, strategy, legal and corporate communications.
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., New York & Miami
2007 - 2009
Managing Director & Head of Strategic Initiatives-Latin America, Global Wealth M
anagement,
Responsible for evaluating Global Wealth Management's (GWM) growth opportunities
throughout the region to include potential acquisitions, joint ventures, strate
gic alliances, referral business and lift-outs. Managed GWM's Onshore growth i
nitiatives in the Region. Coordinated with Global Markets & Investment Banking (
GMI) Management's build out of their business throughout the Region to leverage
key opportunities for GWM's offering. Promoted and implemented strategic client
coverage collaboration between GMI & GWM.
MICROVEST, Washington, D.C. 2007
Consultant to the CEO,
Helped and advised in the analysis and negotiation of an equity investment.
DEUTSCHE BANK, New York Branch 2004 -2005
Managing Director & Co-Head, Private Wealth Management Department-Brazil Group,
Co-managed & supervised business development efforts for the private bankers in
the Brazil Group located in NY, Sao Paulo, Geneva.
WESTDEUTSCHELANDES BANK (West LB), New York Branch 1992-2002
Managing Director, Asset Securitization, Structured Trade Finance & Credit Deriv
atives-Latin America, 1999-2002
Managed and supervised a team of six senior Asset Securitization and Structured
Trade Finance professionals in the U.S., Brazil, and Argentina responsible for t
he generation of over U.S. $ 1.5 B transactions throughout the region with minim
um ROE's of 20%. Managed a portfolio averaging U.S. $ 600 MM of Latin America A
sset Securitization and Structured Trade Finance transactions generated througho
ut the region.
Managing Director, Latin America Group, 1992-1999
Originated and structured over U.S. $ 1 B in U.S. Commercial Paper Programs for
a variety of Latin American Private and Public Sector Corporate and Banks. Origi
nated and structured U.S. Commercial Paper Programs for West LB's foreign
subsidiaries in Brazil and Argentina to develop third party funding alternatives
to reduce West LB's overall funding exposure in Latin America. Originated and s
tructured over U.S. $ 500 MM in Structured Finance transactions and Export elate
d Securitizations in Mexico. Achieved consistent top 5 ranking in the Gold She
ets and IFR Ranking for Debt
Financings in Mexico.
CONTINENTAL BANK, New York 1988-1992
Senior Director and Manager, Capital Markets Products Area / Latin American,
Developed, structured and coordinated the origination of Latin American Capital
markets products with Country Managers and Corporate Finance Teams in Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela. Developed a distribution network with Inst
itutional investors and International Financial Institutions in the United State
s, Europe and Japan.
Senior Director and Regional Manager of the Representative Office for Mexico and
Central America in Mexico City; Manager of CIMSA, S.A. de C.V.,
1988-1991
Set up, staffed (15) and capitalized through a Debt to Equity conversion (U.S. $
36 MM), CIMSA, S.A. de C.V., a wholly-owned Mexican financial investment subsidi
ary of Continental Bank, whose main activity consisted in investing in the Mexic
an money markets and the Mexican stock market. Structured and submitted the appr
ovals to the Mexican financial authorities to establish an investment subsidiary
of CIMSA to manage a peso denominated Fixed Income Mutual Fund of up to U.S. $1
00 MM, and a peso-denominated Variable Income Mutual Fund of up to U.S. $100 MM.
Managed the Structured Trade Finance Group in Mexico. Increased Structured T
rade Finance volume from approximately U.S. $50 MM in 1988 to close to U.S. $800
MM in 1991. Managed the Corporate Finance Group in Mexico, which analyzed vari
ous equity investment projects.
FIRST REPUBLIC BANK
1984-1988
Vice President and Regional Manager of the Representative Office for Brazil, Arg
entina and Chile in Brazil,
Managed and generated the U.S. $600 MM debt portfolio composed, of S.T. and L.T.
Structured Trade finance and Working Capital loans to both private and public s
ector corporations and banks in Brazil. Argentina and Chile. Completed the dives
titure of the Bank's equity investment in a finance company in Argentina. Imple
mented a series of Debt Restructuring transactions in Brazil, Argentina and Chil
e.
NATIONSBANK 1977-1984
Vice President and Manager of the International Banking Department in Florida, 1
983-1984
Opened and managed the International Banking Department in Miami for NATIONSBANK
-Florida, which emanated from the merger of five Florida banks acquired by NATIO
NSBANK Corporation. Staffed and managed the marketing program for multinational
and middle market corporations based in Southeast Florida and the Trade Finance
and Correspondent Banking Groups within the International Banking Department. Ma
naged the International Operations Area, composed of the Letters of Credit, Payi
ng and Receiving and Collections departments to support the Trade Finance and Co
rrespondent Banking activities. Set up and helped structure the Credit, Administ
rative, Accounting and Auditing areas to support the International Banking Depar
tment activities.
Vice President and Manager of the Brazilian Representative Office in Sao Paulo,
Brazil, 1980-1983
Opened the office and generated and managed the U.S. $200 MM debt portfolio, com
posed of S.T. and L.T. Trade Finance and L.T. Working Capital loans to both priv
ate and public sector corporations and banks in Brazil. Developed and presented
to senior management the start up project of the Int'l Banking Department for NA
TIONSBANK-FLORIDA.
Assistant Vice President and Country Manager for Brazil in the Latin American Ar
ea in Charlotte, N.C., 1977-1980
Generated and managed the U.S. $100 MM debt portfolio composed of S.T. and LT. S
tructured Trade Finance and L.T. Working Capital loans to both private and publi
c sectors in Brazil.
DELOITTE, TOUCHE & CO. 1976-1977
Member of the external audit team in Sao Paulo, Brazil, conducting the yearly au
dits for GM, BASF, Liggett & Myers, Monsanto and Dow Chemical.
EDUCATION
1977 - Masters in International Business Studies (MIBS), University of South Car
olina-Columbia.
1972 - Bachelor of Arts in History and Spanish, University of North Carolina- Ch
arlotte.
MILITARY SERVICE - U.S. Army 1972-1974
Auditor for Office of the Inspector General, 3rd Infantry Division; Wurzburg, Ge
rmany.
LANGUAGES - Spanish, Portuguese