Eugenio Garza y Garza has joined Lazard as a managing director heading the firm’s Mexico Financial Advisory business, effective immediately.

He is based in Mexico City, where Lazard is opening a new Financial Advisory office, and will work closely with Jerónimo Marcos Gerard Rivero, a Lazard senior advisor.

“Eugenio has vast experience in the region and a wide set of relationships with local business leaders,” said Alex Stern, CEO of Lazard Financial Advisory. “His expertise and deep roots in Mexico enhance Lazard’s global network for the benefit of all our advisory clients.”

Garza was most recently CEO of Servicios Corporativos Javer, Mexico’s largest homebuilder, which he joined in 2008. Previously he was a managing director and head of Mexico Investment Banking for Merrill Lynch, from 2005 to 2008. He was a vice president at Goldman Sachs from 1997 to 2005.

With the addition of Mexico City, Lazard will have offices in 16 cities across nine countries spanning North, Central and South America.