The IFC has named Gabriel Goldschmidt its new director for Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting the Argentine from his previous role as the region’s head of infrastructure.
In his new position, Goldschmidt will manage the financial institution’s investment and advisory services across 27 countries, where the IFC has an investment portfolio of $18bn and an advisory program worth roughly $125m, the multilateral financier said in a statement.
“Gabriel brings a wealth of experience and a passion for impactful projects,” said Georgina Baker, IFC’s Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia.
In an interview with LatinFinance, Goldschmidt said resolving developmental challenges facing the region were one of his top priorities. In his new role, he also highlighted the importance of providing financing solutions for climate change initiatives, supporting infrastructure in the region and developing the respective countries’ local capital markets.
“We need to keep in mind innovation,” he said. “The markets are evolving and there are shifts in the areas of demand and it is important to provide solutions to fulfill that demand.”
In order to help grow the capital markets, Goldschmidt said the IFC was experimenting with new structures and working on introducing new players to the markets.
“The IFC can bring players to the market because of our global footprint,” he added. “For example, providing support to venture capital arms as incubators of new technology.”
Goldschmidt joined the IFC in 1993 as an investment officer. Since then, he has led investment and advisory activities around the globe.
Prior to joining the multilateral lender, he was a deputy treasurer at Banque La Henin, a real estate specialized bank in Paris, France.
The IFC is yet to name a replacement for Goldschmidt’s previous position.