Movers in South Florida

Rich Andrews named vice president-commercial for North America at Bacardi U.S.A.

Rich Andrews has been named vice president-commercial for North America at Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. He will lead commercial and customer marketing activities across the United States and Canada and will begin his new role in September. For the past two years, he was business unit managing director for the Bacardi business in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Andrews has been with Bacardi for more than 10 years in country, regional and global roles. He began his career with the company as vice president of sales for Canada and was later promoted to president of Bacardi Canada. He returned to the commercial side as Bacardi’s interim regional president of Latin America at the company. He has a bachelor’s degree from Bishop’s University in Quebec, Canada, with a major in social science.

Best advice he ever received: Always treat people with respect. 

Lokesh Amaranayaka named managing director of customer operations at MIA by American Airlines

Lokesh Amaranayaka has been named managing director of customer operations at Miami International Airport by American Airlines, starting in September. He has held numerous position at the company, most recently as director of customer plan ning operations at American’s headquarters in Fort Worth. ​

Francisco Arteaga named division director at Biomed, Albion Staffing Solutions

​ Francisco J. Arteaga  joins the BioMed division of Albion Staffing Solutions as division director. Before, he was vice president at InGente and was based in Puerto Rico. 

Christopher Estes named chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood

​Christopher Estes has been named chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Estes is a physician of obstetrics and gynecology, and his education includes medical school and OB/GYN residency at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital and a master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, at Columbia University. He also was medical director of reproductive health services at UM.

Donte Johnson, Alex Batista in new roles at Kimpton's Surfcomber Miami, South Beach

Donte Johnson, far left, has been named general manager and Alex Batista director of sales and marketing at Kimpton’s Surfcomber Miami, South Beach. Johnson, who was most recently general manager of Topaz Hotel in Washington, D.C., is a graduate of St. Peter’s University in New Jersey. and was on The Washington Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” list. Before his new position, Batista was the director of sales at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Florida International University.

Nancy Thies named VP, development and marketing, Holy Cross Hospital

​Nancy Thies has been named vice president of development and marketing at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. Before, she was vice president of major gifts and legacy gifts at the United Way of Broward County. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jeff Rugg named director of sales, special events at Live Nation, The Fillmore Miami Beach

​ Jeff Rugg joins Live Nation as director of sales, special events, with The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. Before, he was sales manager with the Miami Beach Convention Center, Global Spectrum. He has a bachelor’s degree in sports management and business management from Temple University.

Alexander Jimenez, Miguel Mesa named to executive posts at Apollo Bank

​ Alexander Jimenez, left, will be vice president and branch manager at the Coral Gables location of Apollo Bank, and Miguel Mesa will be vice president and commercial lending officer at the bank. Jimenez was most recently vice president and branch manager at Coconut Grove Bank. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida International University. Before joining Apollo Bank, Mesa was vice president and
a commercial credit officer at Florida Community Bank. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from FIU. 

Marta Colomar Garcia named partner at Diaz Reus & Targ

Marta Colomar Garcia has been named partner at Diaz Reus & Targ. She is in the firm’s Miami office, and she also heads the firm’s Mexico City office. She has been an attorney and associate at the firm. Colomar Garcia, a certified anti-money laundering specialist, has extensive legal experience in the U.S., Spain and Latin America. A frequent guest contributor to the television news network CNN Español, she also writes on topics including international finance, government, banking, and money laundering for Inter-American Dialogue’s Latin America Advisor publications. She has law degrees from Nova Southeastern University and the Universitat de Barcelona. 

Best advice she ever received: There ar
e a lot of pieces of advice that have helped me craft my career. Here are the ones that have marked me the most. From my mother: Never cry in the office; thick skin. From my father: Work because you enjoy it, don’t do it because of the money. From my now-partner Michael: Fight equally for each client, no matter whether it’s a billion-dollar case or a $5,000 dispute. From my former boss Addie: You are not going to the firm to make friends; you are there to work and make the law firm grow.

Julio C. Barrionuevo named senior VP of operations at FedEx Express Latin American and Caribbean Division

Julio C. Barrionuevo is senior vice president of operations, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean for the FedEx Express Latin America and Caribbean Division, headquartered in Miami. Before, he was senior vice president and chief financial officer at FedEx Express International, based in Memphis, Tennessee. Barrionuevo has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Miami and an MBA from Florida International University.