BRAVO Symposium 2025: Legacy and Leadership—A Century of Latin American Excellence
BRAVO Symposium 2025: Legacy and Leadership—A Century of Latin American Excellence
The CEOs of four of the region's oldest companies share the keys to business longevity in an ever-evolving environment.
Speakers:
- Roberto Lara, CEO, Castillo Hermanos
- João Schmidt, CEO, Votorantim
- Francisco Ruiz-Tagle, CEO, CMPC
- Percy Moreira, CEO, Itaú USA and Head of International Private Bank, Itaú
- Andres Cadena, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company (moderator)
A clear vision for the future, steadfast principles, and flexibility were common threads connecting a conversation at the 2025 Council of the Americas Symposium on keeping century-old companies thriving. Under the theme of "Legacy and Leadership," four CEOs heading companies from around the region spoke to how the values instilled at the conception of each enterprise continue to guide today's operations.
"The company never sacrifices long-term success for short-term results," asserted Roberto Lara of Castillo Hermanos, a 139-year old conglomerate founded in Guatemala. Lara emphasized how senior leaders at Castillo Hermanos look ahead to the needs of the next generation when making decisions. They "continue to focus on a human-centric culture so that these values will endure and travel over time," he said.
Likewise, João Schmidt, CEO of Brazilian investment holding company Votorantim, highlighted the enduring identity of a business now led by the fifth generation of the founding family. He further credited a transition to decentralized decision-making with helping the company adapt more quickly in volatile times. Also important to Votorantim's success since 1918 is its social commitment. "Generosity has to be a permanent feature," Schmidt emphasized, speaking on the need to foster community relations through philanthropy.
Francisco Ruiz-Tagle of Chile's CMPC spoke to the importance of centering scalability when making investment decisions, while being mindful of the specificities of each market. "When we enter a country, when we invest in a country, we take time to understand the local culture," he said.
Representing 100-year-old Brazilian financial services company Itaú, CEO Percy Moreira echoed the significance of maintaining a forward-looking posture for decision making. He stressed that leaders must stick to core values so as to not be put off by mistakes, adding "you need to be ambitious but prudent" to navigate long-term success.
