Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) appointed Rafael Aguirre a managing director with the firm’s global transaction advisory group, based in Mexico City.
Aguirre’s appointment meets the Latin America market’s growing need for cross-border mergers and acquisitions given an anticipated uptick in trade activity stemming from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The appointment also augments A&M’s capability to advise clients in Mexico and Latin America on navigating complex cross-border mergers and acquisitions related to regional, national and global transactions.
The appointment of Aguirre follows the hiring of Santiago Chacón, A&M Mexico Tax managing director in Mexico City, and his team. Chacón, a former EY partner with more than 20 years of experience in Mexico, Latin America and Europe, covers tax advisory for M&A and advises on international tax and foreign investment tax planning to maximize value across the transaction life cycle. In addition, the firm hired Bertha Rojas as a senior director and Nathaniel Hays as a director, both formerly of EY, for A&M Mexico’s global transaction advisory group, while Sergio Meneses joined A&M as Mexico country head and managing director and Saúl Villa joined as managing director to augment the firm’s regional footprint along with its restructuring, transformation, disputes and investigations, M&A and performance improvement offerings.
“Mexico represents a significant market for A&M, given the numerous U.S. and European businesses with relevant operations in the region.” Paul Aversano, managing director and global practice leader of A&M’s global transaction advisory group, said. “Rafael’s appointment supports our strategic growth plans, aligns with our operational heritage and furthers our ability to drive value for clients with leadership, action and results.”
“Rafael’s expertise advances our ability to help private equity firms and corporate clients with both local and global concerns,” Fabio Pires, managing director and Latin American practice leader with A&M’s global transaction advisory group, said. “His experience with buy-side and sell-side financial and accounting due diligence issues dovetails with the market’s expressed needs. Rafael’s arrival builds on our Brazil-based transaction advisory capabilities and is integral to our continued growth trajectory in the market.”
“Rafael’s expertise complements A&M’s integrated approach and syncs with our corporate transformation and performance improvement capabilities. His joining furthers our ability to address the market’s evolving needs,” Meneses said.
Aguirre has more than 20 years of experience working in Latin America and the United States on leveraged buy-outs, carve-outs, distressed transactions, negotiations of purchase and sale agreements, and negotiation and design of purchase price adjustment mechanisms. Additionally, he has worked across multiple industries, including financial services, fintech, energy and natural resources, infrastructure, technology, consumer products, retail, telecommunications, diversified industrials, manufacturing and life sciences.
“A&M is the right partner for private equity firms and corporates with investment focus in Mexico and Latin America seeking complex transaction advisory solutions,” Aguirre said. “The firm’s integrated approach and value-add perspective helps solve clients’ current needs while anticipating their future challenges.”
Prior to joining A&M, Aguirre was a partner in Ernst & Young’s transaction advisory services group in Mexico. During that time, he was an active participant in the establishment and structuring of EY’s transaction advisory services practice in Mexico and Latin America. He also served as the transactions leader for the power and utilities sector in Latin America North.
