NEWS 2011
Speyside supports US$ 5.5 billion FDI into Lat Am in 2011
The Speyside team has supported a total of US$ 5.5 billion foreign investment into Latin America in the year to date, including multiple energy sector acquisitions across Central America, an acquisition by a multinational pharmaceutical company in Brazil, and major greenfield investment projects by global leaders in the mining and metals sector. On all transactions Speyside worked with the client at corporate headquarters to provide political risk and stakeholder outreach support pre-entry, and manage internal and external communications and government relations around the closing. Work is ongoing with M&A clients to support post-acquisition integration. Further foreign investment mandates are expected in the second half of 2011.
Visa Inc appoints Speyside for Public Affairs support in Brazil
Speyside has been appointed by Visa in Brazil to support the business in managing its corporate reputation and relationships: helping to educate stakeholders on the role Visa plays within the electronic payments system and the role electronic payment plays in driving financial inclusion and growth. Speyside will help Visa engage with consumer and merchant groups, NGOs and financial experts – helping to forge constructive partnerships around initiatives such as Visa’s national financial literacy programme, its sponsorship of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The long-term appointment follows successful project work in 2010.
Mars Inc retains Speyside for Mexican support
Speyside has been appointed by Mars in Mexico to help provide support for both its main divisions: Pet Care and Chocolate. Mars is a major investor in Mexico with local production facilities where it produces for both the domestic market and other markets across Latin America. Mars’ Pet Care brands include category leaders Whiskas and Pedigree, with Chocolate brands including M&Ms, Mars, Snickers and Twix. Speyside will support the company in continuing to demonstrate industry leadership on areas ranging from quality standards to sustainability and responsible marketing, guided by the company’s “Five Principles”.
Speyside wins PR and PA mandate for the Association of Express Delivery companies
Following a competitive pitch process in late 2010 Speyside has been confirmed as advisor to CLADEC –
the association representing the Express Delivery Services sector in Latin America and the Caribbean and the major express delivery companies servicing the region (DHL, FedEx, TNT, UPS and World Courier). Focusing on Brazil Speyside will support the industry in raising awareness of the contribution it makes to driving economic competitiveness and growth, by facilitating domestic and international trade.
Speyside strengthens its team in Mexico City
Speyside has added to its growing team in Mexico with the appointment of Moises Medleg as a Senior Consultant. Moises graduated in law from the Universidad Iberoamericana before joining the Federal government and working across various senior roles including Assistant to the General Attorney, Director then Chief of Staff at the Environmental Protection Agency (1995-2000) and Supervisor of Regional State Offices at the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (2001). He has since consulted extensively for industry associations and private companies in Brazil; supporting on foreign investment, environment, trade and consumer issues as well as providing in-depth political monitoring. His experience includes work for HP, Dell, Exxon, GE and the national association of Radio and Television companies. He is a Mexican national, based in Mexico City, and has published widely on Mexican environmental law.
Tavistock Natural Resources Group partners with Speyside for Latin America
Tavistock Communications – one of the UKs leading financial communications and investor relations companies – will partner with Speyside to extend the global reach of its market-leading mining and resources practice into Latin America. Tavistock has over 40 natural resources clients on its books and advised on a number of leading natural resources transactions in 2010, including the IPO of Bellzone Mining, AIMs largest mining IPO last year.
Together with market leading specialists in Canada and South Africa, the new partnership agreement provides a unique global offering to mining sector clients, and confirms Speyside’s status as the no.1 corporate affairs specialist for the mining sector in Latin America. The news comes days after Speyside Chairman Alistair McLeish returned from PDAC in Toronto, where he met with clients and industry leaders from across the sector.
Former UK Consul General for Brazil joins Speyside as Senior Advisor
Following his recent departure from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Martin Raven has joined Speyside’s roster of senior advisors for Brazil and Latin America. Martin served as HM General Consul in Sao Paulo from November 2006 until 2010 where he was responsible for leading the Diplomatic Mission for the South of Brazil and the UK Government’s trade promotion and development activities across Brazil. Drawing on his unique knowledge and insights into Brazilian trade and investment, Martin will advise multinational clients on foreign direct investment issues as well supporting leading Brazilian companies on cross-border growth.
Speyside appointed for six country Latin American financial service sector study
Following on from extensive work in Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador in 2010 Speyside has been appointed by a leading global financial services company to analyse its brand strategy and positioning across the Latin American region, providing counsel and support to reposition the brand and support further growth in what is one of the leading global growth regions for the financial services industry. The Speyside team has extensive specialist experience in the financial services sector, having previously provided counsel to HSBC, Barclays, Morgan Stanley, GE Capital, ING, Allianz, Unicredit and other sector leaders.
NEWS 2010
Professor Aldo Musacchio of HBS joins Speyside as Senior Advisor
Aldo Musacchio has been in the faculty of Harvard Business School since 2004. He is currently an associate professor in the Business, Government, and International Economy Unit and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Professor Musacchio’s research has focused on how companies can adopt corporate governance practices that protect investors in relatively adverse legal and institutional environments, with a particular focus on Latin America. His teaching experience includes undergraduate, graduate, and executive courses at Ibmec Business School in São Paulo (now Insper), the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Universidade de Sao Paulo, and INALDE in Colombia. He has provided board-level counsel for governments, public companies and multinational investors across the Latin American region.
Speyside becomes MTI Network Partner for Latin America
Established in 1989, the MTI Network has grown to become the largest global communications network dedicated to the shipping, transportation and maritime industries. The network specialises in issues and crisis planning, training and management and – following the recent partnership agreement – Speyside has already been called upon to help manage two shipping incidents within the Latin American region. The partnership provides a unique local and international offering to clients in the maritime industries, including the offshore Oil & Gas sector which is set to expand dramatically in the coming years as Brazil’s Petrobras oversees exploration of its ‘Pre Salt’ deep sea Oil reserves.
Speyside strengthens links into the mining and energy sectors with Toronto appointment
In seeking to further strengthen its role as the extractive industries corporate affairs consultancy for Latin America Speyside has appointed Andre Benoit as a senior consultant and advisor to the team. Andre brings over 20 years experience in corporate affairs having worked at RJ Reynolds and JTI in a wide range of international roles, culminating in VP Corporate Affairs & Communications for CEMEA. He started his career in the Canadian Department of External Affairs and International Trade. With Speyside Andre will be responsible for forging closer links with the Canadian and global mining community, based in Toronto.
Speyside joins Harvard University Public Policy Program
Building on its strong relationship with Harvard University Speyside has become a partner of the Brazil Public Policy Immersion Program, run by the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies. The purpose of the Program is to expose Harvard College students to the complexity of the challenges and opportunities faced by Latin America’s largest democracy by giving them an opportunity to undertake projects in São Paulo, the country’s cultural and industrial capital. A select group of College students are chosen each year as volunteers in carefully selected organizations in metropolitan São Paulo. The first student joined Speyside in June 2010, helping Speyside support major foreign investors enter the Brazilian market as helping to map opportunities for multinationals for Brazil in the offshore Oil & Gas sector
Daniela Fleischmann appointed VP Andean Region
Daniela Fleischmann has joined Speyside as Vice President of the Andean Region, based from Bogota where she will lead the group’s fast growing Colombian office. Daniela began her career in corporate and investment banking switching to financial journalism with Spanish press agency ASAP Worldwide, responsible for international assignments in Egypt, Jordan, Mozambique, Indonesia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Jamaica, Greece and Barbados. Her corporate communications and public affairs consultancy experience started seven years ago when she joined global network MS&L, first working in London and later playing an instrumental role in the start-up of Middle East operations where she provided board level counsel on a wide range of corporate-issues led campaigns. Since joining Speyside Daniela has been based in Colombia where she has recently completed a comprehensive public affairs audit and strategy review on behalf of a global financial services group. A native English speaker, she also speaks fluent Spanish.
Speyside CEO becomes representative for Davos Communications Forum
Founded in 2009 at Davos in Switzerland the goal of the Forum is to unite top-managers in PR, GR, Marketing, Media, Political and Business Communication, IR, CSR, and Corporate Finances for a global discussion on how to make communications more effective, customer-oriented, trustful, and approachable; to create a platform where best practices, latest researches, ideas and innovations could be shared. Speyside CEO Ian Herbison has become the representative of the Forum for Brazil, helping to raise the profile of the event and attract local industry leaders to join the annual conference. Details of the 2011 event can be found at www.forumdavos.com
