Alejo is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer Emerging Markets Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, based in New York.

In this capacity, Alejo leads a team of analysts focusing on emerging economies, influencing the allocation of billions of dollars of the firm's assets under management. As a member of two management forums at UBS, he helps set the strategic direction of the business.

Alejo is also a professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, where he teaches on capital markets in developing economies.

Outside of business and academia, Alejo helps shape the policy debate impacting emerging markets through his involvement with leading global think tanks. He has been named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Wilson Center's Latin America Program and a Millennium Leadership Fellow by the Atlantic Council.

He frequently appears on Bloomberg Television, CNBC, and CNN, and regularly contributes to financial publications including the Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal.

Alejo earned a PhD in economics from Columbia University. He also holds degrees in economics and finance from Tilburg University and Universidad del CEMA.

Karina Bubeck is a Senior Managing Director and manages the taxable fixed income research team at Nuveen. She is a member of the emerging and non-U.S. developed markets fixed income team and is the EM portfolio manager for 2 of the firm’s multi-asset credit income strategies. Her research responsibilities include South American corporate issuers across financials, pulp and paper, telecom and media, oil and gas, utilities and other industries. Karina is also a co-portfolio manager for several of Nuveen’s emerging markets debt strategies. In her prior role, she covered EMEA corporates as well as Mexico, Central America and Caribbean sovereign and corporate issuers. She has also served as a credit analyst on the domestic private placement team and the private equity team.

Prior to joining the firm in 2003, Karina worked at BBVA as well as Salomon Smith Barney in the equity research group. She has been in the investment industry since 1999 and Karina graduated with a B.B.A. in International Business from Baruch College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She is a member of the CFA Institute, the New York Society of Securities Analysts and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

Marianna Waltz is a Managing Director at Moody’s Investors Service and has joined the company in 2011. She currently runs Moody’s ratings teams in Latin America, including the Corporate Finance, Infrastructure, Banking and Sub-Sovereign groups across more than 15 countries. She is responsible for the development of MIS ratings and research opinions for the region’s fundamental ratings groups, and the delivery of services to issuers and market participants. Prior to assuming this role in January 2021, Marianna was the Managing Director responsible for Moody’s Corporate Finance team in Latin America. Marianna is also a member of the Board of Directors of Moody’s Local, an affiliate of Moody’s in Peru, Panamá, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Prior to joining Moody’s, Marianna developed a career as an equity sell side analyst covering mostly the Brazilian Consumer and Protein sectors. From 2008 to 2011, she was the head of sell-side equity research in the investment arm of Banco do Brasil in Sao Paulo. Marianna is a CFA charter holder and holds three master’s degrees, including an MBA in Finance from IBMEC Business School and an MBA in Marketing from Fundação Getúlio Vargas - FGV.

Ariane leads a team of New York-based analysts covering a portfolio of sovereign and Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) credits across the Americas. She is tasked with delivering on timely and accurate ratings, impactful content, and high-quality stakeholder engagement, as well as Moody’s digital strategy and incremental growth areas.

Before leading the Americas’ Sovereign Risk Group team, Ariane was part of the Credit Strategy and Guidance team, where she led cross-sector analytic initiatives, research and outreach covering Latin America. She chaired the Latin America Credit Council and ensured global analytical consistency, fostering collaboration across analytical teams.

From 2021 to 2023, Ariane was part of the Global Emerging Markets team, responsible for generating house views and research, and hosted Moody’s Emerging Markets Decoded podcast.

Prior to that, Ariane spent a decade as a sovereign analyst, managing a portfolio of sovereigns and multilateral development banks in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, Chile and the International Finance Corporation, leading the internal rating committee discussions for her portfolio of credits, country and region-specific publications, and meetings with government officials.

Before joining Moody’s in 2011, Ariane was a research analyst at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue at Columbia University, prior to which she was a corporate credit analyst in Citi-Banamex in Mexico.

Ariane graduated with Honors in Economics from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University.

Renzo Merino es vicepresidente y credit officer sénior del grupo de riesgo soberano de Moody's Ratings. Se incorporó a Moody's en 2011 y ha sido analista líder de calificaciones soberanas y supranacionales en América Latina desde 2014. Su cartera incluye México, Colombia, Panamá y Uruguay. También es el analista principal del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Renzo ha publicado investigaciones sobre temas relevantes para el crédito soberano que afectan a la región de América Latina. Se graduó de la Universidad de Nueva York con una Maestría en Economía y también tiene un BA en Economía de la Universidad de Pennsylvania.

Barbara Mattos is a Senior Vice President in Moody’s Corporate Finance Group, based in São Paulo, Brazil. Since joining Moody’s in 2011, she has covered a diverse range of corporate sectors in Latin America, including mining, steel, pulp and paper, chemicals, building materials, protein, and restaurants. Currently, she manages a portfolio focused on mining and protein companies in the region and serves as Moody’s global coordinator for the metals and mining industry.

Before her tenure at Moody’s, Barbara was responsible for equity research initiatives at FRAM Capital and worked with the strategic planning and investor relations team at ABN Amro Bank. Her experience also includes roles at Wintershall AG and Cambridge Energy Research Associates in Cambridge, MA.

Barbara holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in accounting from Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil. She also earned an MBA from the Yale School of Management in New Haven, CT, and is a CFA Charterholder.

Alejo is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer Emerging Markets Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, based in New York.

In this capacity, Alejo leads a team of analysts focusing on emerging economies, influencing the allocation of billions of dollars of the firm's assets under management. As a member of two management forums at UBS, he helps set the strategic direction of the business.

Alejo is also a professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, where he teaches on capital markets in developing economies.

Outside of business and academia, Alejo helps shape the policy debate impacting emerging markets through his involvement with leading global think tanks. He has been named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Wilson Center's Latin America Program and a Millennium Leadership Fellow by the Atlantic Council.

He frequently appears on Bloomberg Television, CNBC, and CNN, and regularly contributes to financial publications including the Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal.

Alejo earned a PhD in economics from Columbia University. He also holds degrees in economics and finance from Tilburg University and Universidad del CEMA.

Karina Bubeck is a Senior Managing Director and manages the taxable fixed income research team at Nuveen. She is a member of the emerging and non-U.S. developed markets fixed income team and is the EM portfolio manager for 2 of the firm’s multi-asset credit income strategies. Her research responsibilities include South American corporate issuers across financials, pulp and paper, telecom and media, oil and gas, utilities and other industries. Karina is also a co-portfolio manager for several of Nuveen’s emerging markets debt strategies. In her prior role, she covered EMEA corporates as well as Mexico, Central America and Caribbean sovereign and corporate issuers. She has also served as a credit analyst on the domestic private placement team and the private equity team.

Prior to joining the firm in 2003, Karina worked at BBVA as well as Salomon Smith Barney in the equity research group. She has been in the investment industry since 1999 and Karina graduated with a B.B.A. in International Business from Baruch College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She is a member of the CFA Institute, the New York Society of Securities Analysts and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

Melvin Escudero is CEO and Founder of El Dorado Asset Management and President of El Dorado Investments. With more than 30 years of experience in financial and capital markets, he was Intendant of AFP at the SBS (1997-2010), supervising investments and the registration of new financial instruments. Throughout his career, he has participated in the structuring and analysis of more than 2,800 financial products, valued at more than US$32 billion, both in Peru and in international markets.
He is former President of the CFA Society Peru and the Advocacy Council for Latin America and the Caribbean of the CFA Institute, and has collaborated with the Business Council of the Pacific Alliance.
He holds a degree in Economics from the Universidad del Pacífico and has studied at Harvard, Wharton, Berkeley and MIT, specializing in investment and business management. In addition, he is Director of executive education programs and the Master's in Finance at the Pacifico Business School.

Ariane leads a team of New York-based analysts covering a portfolio of sovereign and Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) credits across the Americas. She is tasked with delivering on timely and accurate ratings, impactful content, and high-quality stakeholder engagement, as well as Moody’s digital strategy and incremental growth areas.

Before leading the Americas’ Sovereign Risk Group team, Ariane was part of the Credit Strategy and Guidance team, where she led cross-sector analytic initiatives, research and outreach covering Latin America. She chaired the Latin America Credit Council and ensured global analytical consistency, fostering collaboration across analytical teams.

From 2021 to 2023, Ariane was part of the Global Emerging Markets team, responsible for generating house views and research, and hosted Moody’s Emerging Markets Decoded podcast.

Prior to that, Ariane spent a decade as a sovereign analyst, managing a portfolio of sovereigns and multilateral development banks in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, Chile and the International Finance Corporation, leading the internal rating committee discussions for her portfolio of credits, country and region-specific publications, and meetings with government officials.

Before joining Moody’s in 2011, Ariane was a research analyst at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue at Columbia University, prior to which she was a corporate credit analyst in Citi-Banamex in Mexico.

Ariane graduated with Honors in Economics from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University.

Marianna Waltz is a Managing Director at Moody’s Investors Service and has joined the company in 2011. She currently runs Moody’s ratings teams in Latin America, including the Corporate Finance, Infrastructure, Banking and Sub-Sovereign groups across more than 15 countries. She is responsible for the development of MIS ratings and research opinions for the region’s fundamental ratings groups, and the delivery of services to issuers and market participants. Prior to assuming this role in January 2021, Marianna was the Managing Director responsible for Moody’s Corporate Finance team in Latin America. Marianna is also a member of the Board of Directors of Moody’s Local, an affiliate of Moody’s in Peru, Panamá, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Prior to joining Moody’s, Marianna developed a career as an equity sell side analyst covering mostly the Brazilian Consumer and Protein sectors. From 2008 to 2011, she was the head of sell-side equity research in the investment arm of Banco do Brasil in Sao Paulo. Marianna is a CFA charter holder and holds three master’s degrees, including an MBA in Finance from IBMEC Business School and an MBA in Marketing from Fundação Getúlio Vargas - FGV.

Barbara Mattos is a Senior Vice President in Moody’s Corporate Finance Group, based in São Paulo, Brazil. Since joining Moody’s in 2011, she has covered a diverse range of corporate sectors in Latin America, including mining, steel, pulp and paper, chemicals, building materials, protein, and restaurants. Currently, she manages a portfolio focused on mining and protein companies in the region and serves as Moody’s global coordinator for the metals and mining industry.

Before her tenure at Moody’s, Barbara was responsible for equity research initiatives at FRAM Capital and worked with the strategic planning and investor relations team at ABN Amro Bank. Her experience also includes roles at Wintershall AG and Cambridge Energy Research Associates in Cambridge, MA.

Barbara holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in accounting from Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil. She also earned an MBA from the Yale School of Management in New Haven, CT, and is a CFA Charterholder.

Renzo Merino es vicepresidente y credit officer sénior del grupo de riesgo soberano de Moody's Ratings. Se incorporó a Moody's en 2011 y ha sido analista líder de calificaciones soberanas y supranacionales en América Latina desde 2014. Su cartera incluye México, Colombia, Panamá y Uruguay. También es el analista principal del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Renzo ha publicado investigaciones sobre temas relevantes para el crédito soberano que afectan a la región de América Latina. Se graduó de la Universidad de Nueva York con una Maestría en Economía y también tiene un BA en Economía de la Universidad de Pennsylvania.

Alejo is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer Emerging Markets Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, based in New York.

In this capacity, Alejo leads a team of analysts focusing on emerging economies, influencing the allocation of billions of dollars of the firm's assets under management. As a member of two management forums at UBS, he helps set the strategic direction of the business.

Alejo is also a professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, where he teaches on capital markets in developing economies.

Outside of business and academia, Alejo helps shape the policy debate impacting emerging markets through his involvement with leading global think tanks. He has been named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Wilson Center's Latin America Program and a Millennium Leadership Fellow by the Atlantic Council.

He frequently appears on Bloomberg Television, CNBC, and CNN, and regularly contributes to financial publications including the Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal.

Alejo earned a PhD in economics from Columbia University. He also holds degrees in economics and finance from Tilburg University and Universidad del CEMA.

Melvin Escudero is CEO and Founder of El Dorado Asset Management and President of El Dorado Investments. With more than 30 years of experience in financial and capital markets, he was Intendant of AFP at the SBS (1997-2010), supervising investments and the registration of new financial instruments. Throughout his career, he has participated in the structuring and analysis of more than 2,800 financial products, valued at more than US$32 billion, both in Peru and in international markets.
He is former President of the CFA Society Peru and the Advocacy Council for Latin America and the Caribbean of the CFA Institute, and has collaborated with the Business Council of the Pacific Alliance.
He holds a degree in Economics from the Universidad del Pacífico and has studied at Harvard, Wharton, Berkeley and MIT, specializing in investment and business management. In addition, he is Director of executive education programs and the Master's in Finance at the Pacifico Business School.

Karina Bubeck is a Senior Managing Director and manages the taxable fixed income research team at Nuveen. She is a member of the emerging and non-U.S. developed markets fixed income team and is the EM portfolio manager for 2 of the firm’s multi-asset credit income strategies. Her research responsibilities include South American corporate issuers across financials, pulp and paper, telecom and media, oil and gas, utilities and other industries. Karina is also a co-portfolio manager for several of Nuveen’s emerging markets debt strategies. In her prior role, she covered EMEA corporates as well as Mexico, Central America and Caribbean sovereign and corporate issuers. She has also served as a credit analyst on the domestic private placement team and the private equity team.

Prior to joining the firm in 2003, Karina worked at BBVA as well as Salomon Smith Barney in the equity research group. She has been in the investment industry since 1999 and Karina graduated with a B.B.A. in International Business from Baruch College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She is a member of the CFA Institute, the New York Society of Securities Analysts and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.