Meet the Team

Management

Strategic Leadership

Francisco Escobar

CEO

Francisco brings over a decade of experience in asset management, with previous roles at PwC Advisory and Earl Capital AG, where he advised high-net-worth individuals. In 2018, he founded AVO Oro Verde AG and Asymmetrica Investments Ltd to give investors access to high-potential, asymmetric opportunities. He holds a degree from the Vienna University of Economics, has passed all CAIA exams, and is a CFA charterholder.

Dr. Liliana Pérez Manríquez

Chief Business Development Officer

Senior Executive with 15+ years of international experience across investment, venture capital, and strategic partnerships, leading cross-border growth and capital strategy. Liliana holds a PhD in Bioscience from KAUST and has executive education from Harvard Business School, Cornell University, and Erasmus University Rotterdam. She is fluent in five languages.

Philipp Salas

Head of Project Management

Philipp has 12+ years of management consulting experience, with roles at Coca-Cola Hellenic, EY Advisory, and Talos Management Consultants. He is the founder of Salas+ Management Consulting and Co-Founder & Head of Project Management at AVO Oro Verde. Philipp holds a Master’s in Supply Chain Management and completed the Disruptive Strategies program at Harvard Business School.

John Sutton

International Affairs Officer

He has over 25 years of experience in global import and export from more than 30 countries. He is the founder of Suttonselects. John brings over 15 years of international affairs experience in Mexico, Russia, and the United States. John holds a degree in Economics from San Diego State University and a degree in International Development from the University of Geneva.

Experts

Consulting Partners

Francesco De Simone

Head of Business Development and Structuring

Francesco is a financial executive with 30+ years of experience in investment banking and asset management. A multi-asset specialist, he has served on key investment committees at LGT Capital Management, overseeing more than USD 10B in assets and managing traditional and alternative investment funds. He advises HNWIs, family offices, asset managers, and listed companies.

Mauricio Merigo

Head of Operations

Mauricio has 10+ years of experience managing infrastructure and production projects for global clients. As COO of AVO Oro Verde in Mexico, he oversees the investment vehicle, legal and financial structuring, and local investment management. He holds an MBA from IPADE and a Civil Engineering degree from ITESM, with additional business and finance training from Yale and Berkeley.

Advisory Board

Domain Expertise

Jorge Güemez

Advisor Deal Structuring

Jorge has made his way through the ranks of Mexican, Dutch, and French banks. He is the Director of Corporate Banking at BNP Paribas Mexico and has over 20 years of experience in banking and sales. His strong people skills and comprehensive knowledge of the Mexican banking industry have shaped his successful career. Jorge holds an MBA in Finance from Columbia University.

Jesús López

Advisor Agribusiness

He is a financial executive with 19 years of corporate banking experience and in-depth knowledge of Food & Agribusiness operations. He was Executive Director at Rabobank in Mexico, as well as Lead Investment Officer and Head of Agribusiness Mexico for the Inter-American Development Bank. Jesús is the Director of the Mexican office of MetLife Agricultural Investment Management. He holds a Master of Science in Agribusiness from Arizona State University and a specialization in Corporate Finance from the Ibero-American University.

Matteo Barberi

Impact Researcher

Matteo’s core experience spans across research and consulting. Working for the FAO and the RAND Research Organization, he led and contributed to a wide array of projects for multinational institutions and high-profile clients. At Asymmetrica, Matteo is responsible for impact research and integrating it into the investment process. He holds an MS in Economics and an MA in European Economics.