Will Help Lead Efforts to Expand Access to Microfinance and Technology
October 9, 2009 - Grameen Foundation has announced the appointment of Alberto Solano as regional CEO for the Americas. Under his helm, Grameen Foundation will focus on increasing access to microfinance and technology for the poor, especially the poorest people in the region, and exploring avenues for using microfinance as a platform for delivering other services to them such as healthcare and education.
“We are delighted to have Alberto join the Grameen Foundation team and lead us in expanding our work across a very important region in the fight against global poverty,” said Alex Counts, president of Grameen Foundation. “Our experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean for almost a decade has shown us the tremendous role that microfinance and information technology can play in creating new opportunities for poor people. Our goal is to drive innovative approaches that will reach even more people, especially the poorest members of those communities.”
A native of Guatemala, Alberto Solano will be Grameen Foundation’s first regional CEO for the Americas. He will provide leadership and management oversight for the foundation’s portfolio and activities across the region from his base in Managua, Nicaragua. Solano has more than a decade of experience in microfinance, principally in Latin America, and was most recently the Latin America Vice President for Global Partnerships. He has also worked with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration’s microfinance and technical assistance programs in Honduras, and ran his own consulting company specializing in sustainable development and microfinance.
In welcoming his appointment, Alberto Solano said, “I am very excited about the opportunities in leading Grameen Foundation’s efforts in the Americas. The foundation has demonstrated a clear commitment to improving the lives of the poorest of the region by supporting excellent microfinance programs and innovative solutions. I am honored to be part of this remarkable organization.”