Ibema expands global operations and opens an office in Buenos Aires New manager of International Business and Distribution will lead portfolio expansion in strategic countries
With sales currently to 25 countries, Ibema, a leading company in the Brazilian packaging market, now expands its international presence. Within this scope, the paperboard manufacturer announces its new International Business and Distribution manager, Leonardo Reis. The professional leaves the position of national manager of direct sales and assumes the new position on July 1st.
The executive will lead the company's expansion around the world via its own offices and representations. He also accumulates the leadership of the Distribution channel in Brazil, reporting to Ibema's commercial director, Julio Jubert Cauby Guimarães. The focus is to grow abroad, protecting the demand in the domestic market, a policy always valued by the brand.
“Our new investment plan aims to consolidate Ibema's performance in the international markets in which we already operate on a regular basis – with emphasis on Argentina, Paraguay, United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain”, explains the executive. "In addition, we want to expand our presence in strategic regions of our Atlantic border, where we are more competitive in terms of freight: Western Europe, the west coast of Africa and the entire American continent." Currently, foreign sales represent a quarter of Ibema's revenues.
Among the new international actions, the first is the opening of the company's office in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. This is the company's first commercial headquarters in another country, with local personnel.
Specialization and focus to grow
Aged 32, Leonardo Reis is from São Paulo and has been at Ibema for two years. During this period, as national manager of direct sales, he established partnerships with clients in strategic markets, designed and implemented a commercial execution model that brought consistency and predictability to the results. During the period, he celebrated the channel's revenue records.
Reis holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration, with executive training from Ohio University and West Virginia University and specializations from the São Paulo School of Sociology and Politics Foundation (FESPSP) and the Superior School of Advertising and Marketing (ESPM). He is pursuing an MBA in International Business from the Brazilian Association of Foreign Trade and Massachussets Institute of Business. He has experience in different markets, in large companies such as Whirlpool, Suzano and Arco Platform. “We are looking for permanent and well-positioned clients in strategic markets that add to our performance”, concludes the professional.