Location: International

Jorge Suárez-Vélez is CEO and Founding Partner of Americana Partners International. In this role he works closely with ultra-high-net-worth Latin American families to help preserve and grow their wealth across generations.

Previously, Jorge served as Managing Director at Allen & Company Investment Advisors from 2015 to 2024. He was Founding Partner of SP Family Office, LLC from 2009 to 2015, and CEO of ING Private Wealth Management, LLC from 2004 to 2009. He also served in various roles for other Swiss, Japanese and Mexican financial institutions.

Since 1998, he has been a weekly guest at CNN en español, commenting on economic topics. In July of 2017 he became a weekly Op-Ed columnist for Reforma/El Norte/Muralin Mexico, writing about politics and economics. He previously wrote a similar column for El Financiero newspaper in Mexico (local partner of Bloomberg), from 2013 to 2017.

In 2011, Random House published his book La Próxima Gran Caída de la Economía Mundial (The Coming Downturn of the World Economy), and in 2013 Ahora o Nunca, La Gran Oportunidad de México Para Crecer (Now or Never, The Great Opportunity for Mexico to Grow). Both books remained on the best-seller list for months.

He has been a speaker at events of the Council of Foreign Relations, the Council of the Americas, Aspen Institute, Milken Institute Global Conference, Columbia University, Penn University, Pace University, Florida International University (FIU), and dozens of conferences throughout the Americas.

An economist from the ITAM University in Mexico City, he completed graduate programs at the IMD at Lausanne, Switzerland in 2003 and 2007. He taught at the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City between 1984 and 1988.

From 2005 to 2016 he served on the board of trustees of the Lycée Français de New York; since 2011 on the board of Qualitas of Life Foundation, since 2016 on the board of México ¿Cómo Vamos? in Mexico City, and on the advisory board of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center. He co-presides over APEM (Asociación de Profesionistas y Empresarios de México en Nueva York Foundation), which he co-founded in 2012.

Javier I. A. Altimari is a Founder and Managing Partner at Americana Partners International. For over a decade, he has focused on serving Families and Institutions in the United States and abroad by leveraging his network, international background, and passion for the financial markets. Prior to joining Americana Partners and since 2018, Javier was a Senior Director and Portfolio Manager at Oppenheimer & Co. He started his career at Merrill Lynch in 2011 and was Vice President / Private Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager at GFS Advisors from 2013 to 2018.  

Javier holds a dual major in Economics and International Relations from The University of Texas at Austin, the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards and received the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation through The Wharton School of Business.

María José Barrientos is a seasoned financial services professional with extensive experience in client service and managing risk and regulatory compliance. Most recently, and prior to joining Americana Partners International, María José was with Morgan Stanley where she was a Complex Risk Officer, overseeing the risk management for a multi-state international hub focused on the Latin American market.

Prior to that, María José was with Oppenheimer from 2018, where she served as a Latin American subject matter expert, and her role involved managing the onboarding process for new international financial advisors and ensuring compliance with KYC/EDD AML regulatory requirements.

María José’s journey in the financial services industry started in 2000 with PaineWebber in New Jersey. She moved to Texas in 2005 to join UBS International, where she began as a Senior Client Service Associate and later advanced to Complex Operations Manager, catering to ultra-high net worth Latin American clients.

María José earned dual bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and psychology from the University of Houston-Downtown. Her commitment to animal welfare is a significant aspect of her life; she is dedicated to rescuing dogs and providing them with loving and secure homes. María José lives with her elderly parents, her husband Marco, their adult son Marco Antonio, and their cherished pack of rescued dogs.

In her free time, María José enjoys reading, hiking with her dogs, mountain biking, and traveling with family and friends.