Marcela Celorio - Corporate Diplomacy, Crisis Management and National Security Practice Leader
After 30 years of an exciting diplomatic career, Ambassador Marcela Celorio has served in different diplomatic capacities in cities across Europe, Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. With a focus on US-Mexico relations, Cross-Border Diplomacy, National Security, Crisis Management and Government Affairs, Marcela has emerged as a distinguished authority on these pivotal areas in the field of international relations.
Marcela participated, advocated, and succeeded in driving the adoption of a constitutional amendment in the Mexican Congress allowing Mexican nationals to hold dual or multiple nationalities. She also developed the avant-garde concept of Cross-Border Diplomacy advocates that although the traditional notion of diplomacy has a predominant role in international relations, there is nonetheless a gap in particular regions where a difficult challenge demands a more refined approach, such as in the US-Mexico border situation.
After serving as Consul General in the Los Angeles Mexican Consulate, Mexico’s largest diplomatic foreign office, Marcela served as Vice-President of Customer Relations for LM Advisors LLC, an independent financial services firm advising clients on investment strategy, with offices in San Diego and Mexico City.
Marcela is now Founder and Executive Director of the Polidore Foundation whose mission it is to promote civic education among immigrants and members of their communities and she was appointed as an Independent Board Member and Audit Committee Member of Bank of America Mexico and Merrill Lynch Mexico.
Marcela holds two Master’s degrees, one in Diplomatic Studies from the Instituto Matías Romero and second one in Security and Defense from the Mexican Ministry of National Defense. She also did postgraduate research in the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, University of California San Diego, Harvard University and American University.
Originally from Mexico, holding dual Mexican/Spanish nationality, Marcela is fluent in English and knows a bit of French, Italian, and Hebrew. Ambassador Celorio studied law from the prestigious Mexican Law School Escuela Libre de Derecho. She is the first female alumnus to have reached the rank of “Ambassador”.
Antonio Carranza - Corporate Finance and Business Development Practice Leader
Antonio is a Finance Executive with 25 years of experience leading organizations in Latin America, USA and Europe. He has vast experience in Hedging Strategies, Financial Planning, Business Governance and Process Improvements with a strong focus on Cash Flow and EBIT growth.
Mr Carranza has held CFO, Treasurer and Controller positions in Mexico, Germany and US with Private and Public Companies in the Consumer Products, Aerospace and Manufacturing sectors with Revenues ranging from $25Million to $3 Billion dollars. He also worked in Germany as Cash Flow and Hedging Director and Investment Committee Member for a Multinational Corporation with presence in 58 countries, Revenue of $4B Euro and Investment Portfolio of $1B Euro.
During his professional career, Mr Carranza has participated in startups in Russia, Indonesia and USA for large Consumer Goods organizations and since 4 years ago actively investing in startups in Mexico and US. Antonio Carranza currently holds a CFO and CCO role for an Agro Business in Los Angeles California and serves as a Board Member in 3 businesses in the Hospitality, Education and Tech segments in Mexico and USA.
Guillermo Fonseca - International Litigation and Compliance Practice Leader
With over 20 years of professional experience, Guillermo is an expert in international cooperation centered on justice, conducting multi-jurisdictional investigations and orchestrating complex negotiations with authorities from both Mexico and the United States, as well as within multilateral frameworks.
He has held various legal and international roles in the Attorney General's Office (Procuraduría General de la República now known as the Fiscalía General de la República), including positions at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington D.C. and the General Consulate in Los Angeles, California.
Currently, he is a consultant on a wide array of legal subjects, specializing in the design of programs to prevent fraud, money laundering and corruption, in addition to international litigation.
As a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Fonseca has taught Private International Law, Telecommunications Law, Legal Systems, and Comparative Law. He has also delivered specialized modules on fraud prevention and anti-money laundering in postgraduate programs covering forensic audit and internal control at various educational institutions.
Guillermo Fonseca earned his law degree from the Ibero-American University in Mexico City, holds a Master's in Human Rights from the University of Essex, and has completed a Master's program in the Federal Justice System at the National Institute of Criminal Sciences.
Oscar Sanchez Delgado - Regulatory, Processes Improvements and Personal Data Protection Practice Leader
Oscar our associate in Mexico City, has twenty-five years of experience in the areas of finance, budget, federal regulation, compliance, organization, process improvement, quality, archives, process management and personal data protection.
Since 2018 he has participated as a Consultant in the Binational Support Network to promote and address actions in favor of Mexicans in the United States, based on the study and knowledge of their needs, habits and customs. He provides integral services, including advice on regulatory compliance, and management of personal and business procedures.
In the Public Sector he worked in México in the Ministries of Finance and Public Credit, Communications and Transportation, Public Function and Foreign Affairs, coordinating organizational, operational and regulatory issues, participating in the implementation of the improvement of procedures, and implementing protocols in the consulates and embassies of Mexico abroad.
Oscar holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, a Master's Degree in Organizational Management and a Specialization in Political Economy from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, with studies in Governing for NonProfit at Harvard Business School and Urban Development and Regional Economics at the Colegio de Economistas.
David Sparks - Lean Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management Practice Leader
David is a Lean Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management specialist with extensive experience working in both the U.S. and Mexico for Multinational Fortune 100 companies and Private Equity. His products and processes experience ranges across Automotive, Commercial Vehicles, Industrial Automation and Big Box Retail. David has held multi plant leadership positions, to include Director of Operations, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager.
David has led Mexico greenfield plant construction and plant transfers from the U.S. to Mexico. He specializes in Operating Profit optimization through Multilevel Organizational Strategy Deployment, mentoring Lean Methodology across all business disciplines, and Global Supply Chain management.
He has proven results developing and implementing ESG projects to deliver consistent carbon footprint reduction and recruiting diverse management teams to drive best in class results.
Swati Panchal - Corporate Finance and Accounting Senior Associate
Swati is an Accounting Finance Professional residing in Los Angeles. Having over 10 Plus years of experience under her belt, her experience includes working with several industries such as Media & Entertainment, Non-Profits, Aerospace, Pharmaceutical & Supplements, Banking and Retail. She has worked with small business, mid-size as well as big corporations, public and private sectors.
Her expertise includes full cycles of AR, AP, Business set ups, Business License, Payroll, Taxes, Accruals, Amortizations, Prepaids, Cash Flows, Budgets, FP&A, Reconciliations, Month End and Year End Closings.
She has managed small and big teams in the roles she has held in the past and thrives in any environment that is challenging and takes the company, team and organization towards significant successful milestones.
Sandra Lopez - Public Relations and Communication
Sandra is a seasoned expert in international relations with a specialization in public administration and over 15 years of experience in public relations, communications, government and interinstitutional relations, logistics, and event management. Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, she seamlessly bridges cultural and linguistic divides, excelling in multinational environments with a highly strategic and analytical approach. Her proficiency in public relations and communications is evidenced by her ability to assess and navigate complex political, policy, and regulatory landscapes. She has consistently demonstrated success in crafting and implementing strategic plans that strengthen stakeholder relationships and promote organizational objectives.
Throughout her career, she has managed high-pressure situations and competing priorities with ease, delivering exceptional results. Her accomplishments include leading impactful campaigns and projects across several countries, organizing press conferences, drafting compelling talking points, press releases, and media advisories. She has spearheaded the opening of three offices for Mexico’s diplomatic and consular representations, showcasing her expertise in public affairs and strategic communications. With a global perspective shaped by her professional and academic experiences in the United States, Central America, and Europe, she brings invaluable insights and a deep understanding of international dynamics. Her multilingual fluency in Spanish (native), English, and French further amplifies her ability to connect and communicate effectively across diverse audiences.
Currently, she plays a pivotal role in supporting the Cross Border Advisory Group, leveraging her expertise in public relations to promote the group’s transborder, multidisciplinary services. Her strategic initiatives and exceptional interpersonal skills continue to enhance the group's reputation, driving its mission to deliver tailored solutions for clients navigating challenges in both the United States and Mexico. Her dedication to fostering collaboration, building relationships, and delivering results underscores her position as an indispensable asset to the Cross Border Advisory Group.