25 November 2024

BBVA CIB USA expands its Consumer team with dedicated Foodservice coverage

BBVA CIB USA is expanding its corporate client services by strengthening the Retail team with a dedicated Foodservice Distribution effort in New York. This new addition aims to bolster BBVA’s presence in the U.S. market by providing specialized support to clients in these sectors, addressing their needs in added-value products of advisory and financing. 


The newly formed team will be led by Leandro Brufman, a seasoned banking professional with nearly 15 years of experience in corporate and investment banking. Brufman joins BBVA CIB USA from UBS CIB in New York, where he spearheaded initiatives in the foodservice and retail distribution sector, working closely with private equity firms and corporate clients across North America. His expertise encompasses originating and executing financing transactions as well as advising on both buy-side and sell-side M&A deals.

This expansion underscores BBVA CIB USA’s commitment to becoming a more strategic partner to its corporate clients, addressing growing demand for deeper advisory support, especially in sectors with high growth and consolidation opportunities. With Brufman’s experience and BBVA’s established footprint in Latin America, the team is well-positioned to offer U.S. clients a unique blend of local expertise and global reach, enhancing BBVA’s ability to deliver tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of the foodservice distribution and retail sectors.

Inigo Leivar, Global Head of Consumer, Healthcare, and Retail at BBVA CIB, emphasized the strategic importance of the new unit: “This addition to the team underscores BBVA’s commitment to sectors with high growth potential, and it enhances our ability to deliver specialized solutions tailored to the evolving needs of our clients.”

Regina Gil Hernandez, BBVA USA CIB’s head, commented: “We want to be more relevant to our corporate clients in the US and they have been asking us to support them with advisory and capital markets services for our core footprint. We have excellent capabilities in Latin America, so by bringing Leandro onboard we can leverage our strategic dialogue on the region on the top of our transactional capabilities.”

About BBVA CIB USA

BBVA CIB USA provides a full range of financial and advisory services to corporate clients, with expertise spanning multiple sectors including consumer, healthcare, and retail. The bank leverages its global network and strong presence in Latin America to offer cross-border solutions tailored to client needs in the Americas and beyond.