PRESS RELEASE: Rosario Perez Elected CEO of Microfinance Institution Pro Mujer, Ben Moyer to Rejoin Board of Directors

Source: Pro Mujer.

Original press release available here.

NEW YORK, April 29 – Rita Foley, Chairman of the Board of Pro Mujer International, a leading microfinance and women’s development network, announced today the appointment of Rosario Perez as the new Chief Executive Officer of the organization effective June 23, 2008. Ms. Perez, who is currently a member of the Pro Mujer Board of Directors, succeeds Ben Moyer, the interim CEO, who will be returning to the Board as a Director.

“Since September 2006, Rosario has served as a member of the Board of Pro Mujer where she has been an integral member of several board committees and worked with the leadership of the organization both in the U.S. and in the field. Rosario’s mix of strategic vision, passion and discipline, combined with her deep knowledge of finance, the Latin American region, and Pro Mujer, make her the ideal person to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and development.”

Ms. Perez said: “I’m truly excited to head Pro Mujer, a recognized leader and innovator in serving Latin America’s poor, into this next chapter of what already is an impressive track record. I’m fortunate to follow Ben Moyer, who successfully oversaw the smooth transition of the leadership structure and recruited an outstanding team of professionals to enhance the organization.”

Prior to joining Pro Mujer, Ms. Perez had a distinguished 21-year career in banking, starting at Citibank and most recently as the head of Latin America, JPMorgan Chase Private Bank. She has launched businesses, led organizational transformations and managed large multi-country teams throughout Latin America. While at JPMorgan Chase she was responsible for overall management, operating and financial performance of all Private Banking client and product resources focused on the Latin American market. She led a global business with 475 employees and 10 worldwide offices with over USD 30 billion in assets under management and over USD 280 million in revenues.

Ms. Perez also has a strong commitment to and history of working with not-for-profit organizations. She served on the board of Helen Keller Worldwide and is president of the board of CONARTE (Consorcio International Arte y Escuela) a Mexican foundation focused on promoting the arts in primary and secondary schools.

Ms. Perez holds an undergraduate degree from the Universidad de Las Americas in Mexico. She also holds a M.A. in Modern European History from Yale University and attended New York University Stern School of Business where she participated in intensive graduate business training for Ph.D. and doctoral candidates in the humanities.

Ben Moyer, a former board member and former head of the Finance Committee and member of the Executive Committee, has been serving as interim CEO. Mr. Moyer will be rejoining the Board as head of the Audit Committee and member of the Executive Committee.

In announcing the appointment, Ms. Foley characterized Ms. Perez as “a strong leader and the perfect choice for this moment in Pro Mujer’s history. As we look to accelerate our growth over the next few years, and to build Pro Mujer into the market leader in Latin America, Rosario brings the perfect set of skills to the position of CEO. She has a love for the region and extensive knowledge and experience managing in Latin America, a very successful track record in banking, great depth of management and leadership and a passion for our model of integrating microfinance with healthcare and social development.”

Pro Mujer is an international microfinance and women’s development network whose mission is to provide Latin America’s poorest women with the means to build livelihoods for themselves and futures for their families through microfinance, business training, and healthcare support.

Established in 1990, the network comprises microfinance institutions in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. Since its inception, Pro Mujer has disbursed more than USD 383 million in small loans averaging approximately USD 225 and serving more than one million women and their families. Clients have saved USD 14 million, providing a financial buffer for their families in times of crisis.

Pro Mujer International is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization based in New York City.

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