Institute of the Americas (IOA) Announces a Change in Leadership

Articles

Press Release

November 19, 2018 Institute of the Americas La Jolla, CA

At its November 15^th, 2018 board meeting, the Institute of the Americas (IOA) announced a change in leadership. Effective November 19^th, a new chairperson, vice-chair, and president will lead the organization. The IOA was founded 35 years ago by Ambassador Theodore E. Gildred Jr., in remembrance of his father, Theodore Gildred, Sr., both of whom lived and worked in Latin America. The IOA is a non-profit organization focused on promoting sound public policy and fostering cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders across the Western hemisphere.

The Board selected three current members to assume the newly vacated leadership positions.  Mr. Jorge Rosenblut was elected as the new Chairperson and Mr. José Fimbres as the new Vice Chair of IOA’s Board of Directors. The Board appointed Mr. Theodore E. Gildred III as the new President of the Institute.

After three years of service as the Institute’s president, Ambassador Jamal Khokhar announced that the “time has come for me to pursue new horizons.” He also added, “I greatly value my time working with the Institute’s team and Board of Directors and wish them every success as they move the Institution forward.”

Richard C. Hojel and Nelson W. Cunningham also successfully completed six-year tenures at the Institute’s helm as Chairperson and Vice Chair, respectively. They remain as Board members. Upon reflecting on his time as the Institute’s Chair, Mr. Hojel said, “It has been an honor to serve as Chairperson of the Institute of the Americas the last six years.  I want to thank Nelson Cunningham, the entire Board of Directors and the IOA team for their unwavering support. It is time for a new team to take over the leadership of the Institute.  I am confident Jorge Rosenblut, José Fimbres and Ted Gildred III will do a fantastic job.”

After working for decades as an executive leader in private industry and government, Mr. Jorge Rosenblut now works as an independent consultant helping clients incubate growth, encourage evolution from legacy practice, and transform business models to better manage disruption and re-emerge in their industries.

Mr. José Fimbres has been involved in food retail through Grupo Calimax S.A. and is a real estate developer of Industrial and commercial properties in Mexico.

Mr. Theodore E. Gildred III has sat on the Board of Directors of the Institute for nearly 20 years, and it is with great pride and enthusiasm that he is stepping in as President to steer the IOA toward a bright and exciting future. Mr. Gildred has extensive experience in Latin America and has worked for several years as an investment banker in New York and London specializing in Intra-Americas transactions. As the CEO of the Lomas Santa Fe Group and BV Resorts, LLC, he has focused on commercial hotel developments in the U.S. and Mexico.

The new leadership team echoes a central belief of the Board of Directors that in these challenging economic and political times, it is important to rely on Institutions like the IOA to help provide the necessary insight for companies and governments that aid timely decision making.  The new leadership looks forward to strengthening IOA’s ties to Latin America through innovative ideas and joint cooperation with regional partners. The 35-year-old IOA is a needed and trusted locus where thought leaders, investors, government officials, and leading, experienced industry professionals can: have robust discussions on investment trends and opportunities; facilitate intense dialogue and policy debate; and, support high-level networking at its world-renowned headquarters on the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla, California.