COA to Honor Leadership of LATAM Airlines, Banco do Brasil, Rappi & Atlas Renewable Energy at 31st BRAVO Business Awards

Honorees will be recognized in Miami on November 19 for the remarkable transformations that have positioned them as major drivers of economic development.

MIAMI, FL, UNITED STATES, September 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Council of the Americas (COA) is pleased to announce the honorees of the 31st BRAVO Business Awards, which will be presented at a gala held at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel on November 19, 2026.

Bringing together multinational and multilatina company executives, government leaders, entrepreneurs, and global investors, this year's gala will showcase and honor exceptional, forward-thinking leadership that has driven innovation, expanded opportunities, and increased investment across the Americas.

"For more than three decades, the BRAVO Business Awards have recognized leaders whose vision, resilience, and commitment have transformed their companies into powerful engines of economic growth and sustainable progress," said Susan Segal, President and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas. "This year's honorees exemplify the innovation and leadership that are strengthening industries, creating opportunities, and advancing prosperity across Latin America. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the lasting impact they are making throughout the region."

The 2026 honorees are:

- Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines, who will be honored with the BRAVO CEO of the Year Award for his outstanding leadership in transforming LATAM Airlines during one of the most challenging periods in the aviation industry's history, leading the company through changes that strengthened its financial performance, accelerated its digital evolution and positioned it for long-term growth.

- Banco do Brasil will receive the BRAVO Legacy Award, accepted by Tarciana Medeiros, CEO of Banco do Brasil. As Brazil’s oldest financial institution and one of Latin America’s largest banks, Banco do Brasil is being recognized for its longstanding contribution to Brazil’s economic, social and sustainable development.

- Rappi will receive the BRAVO Beacon of Innovation Award, accepted by one of its founders, Felipe Villamarín. Born in Colombia, Rappi helped pioneer the super app model in Latin America, reshaping how millions access goods and services while giving businesses new ways to grow. Rappi has become one of the region’s most recognizable technology companies – and part of a generation proving that category-defining innovation can be built in Latin America.

- Carlos Barrera, founder and CEO of Atlas Renewable Energy, will be honored with the BRAVO Innovative CEO of the Year Award for his ability to turn the company he started in 2017 into the largest independent renewable energy producer in Latin America, helping accelerate the region's transition to a more sustainable future.

"Latin America is home to companies and leaders driving innovation, investment, and long-term economic opportunity," said Maria Lourdes Teran, vice president of AS/COA Miami and Chair of the BRAVO Business Awards. "We are proud to recognize this year's BRAVO honorees for their business transformation and impact, and to convene the region’s business community in Miami for a timely conversation about Latin America’s future."

On the morning of the BRAVO Business Awards, the Council of the Americas Symposium will convene an influential community of C-level leaders and senior executives who are shaping Latin America's business landscape. As Latin America's premier business engagement and dialogue platform, the Symposium's content tracks will feature the most relevant topics impacting the global business agenda, with a focus on Latin America. This year, topics include the AI economy and the region’s potential for data center investments and cloud infrastructure, how companies are leveraging AI to build a strategic advantage, the path of expansion that some Latin American companies are taking in the U.S., and the business opportunities that the region can capitalize on, among other timely themes.

2026 BRAVO Honoree Profiles

Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines, will be honored with the BRAVO CEO of the Year Award.

Since assuming the role of CEO of LATAM Airlines in March 2020, Roberto Alvo has led one of Latin America's largest airlines through one of the most challenging periods in the history of global aviation. After the difficult decision to enter Chapter 11, Alvo guided LATAM through a comprehensive financial restructuring and positioned the company for long-term growth and resilience. Under his leadership, the airline emerged stronger, achieving its best financial performance to date while accelerating its digital transformation and enhancing operational efficiency. Throughout this period, Alvo placed people first, supporting the dedication of LATAM's approximately 42,000 employees across the region, who worked collectively to rebuild the company stronger than before. His commitment to innovation, community, and sustainable aviation has reinforced LATAM Airlines' position as a leading carrier in the Americas.

Banco do Brasil will receive the BRAVO Legacy Award, accepted by Tarciana Medeiros, CEO of Banco do Brasil.

As Brazil's oldest financial institution and one of Latin America’s largest banks, Banco do Brasil has played a defining role in the country's economic and social development for more than two centuries. The bank has expanded access to financial services, supported strategic sectors of the economy, and created opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities throughout Brazil. Since becoming the first woman to lead Banco do Brasil in January 2023, Medeiros has guided the institution through a period of significant transformation, advancing innovation, financial inclusion, sustainability, and responsible banking. Her leadership has reinforced Banco do Brasil's support for agribusiness, accelerated digital transformation, and strengthened the institution’s capacity to navigate an increasingly complex financial environment. Banco do Brasil has also expanded its commitment to sustainable finance, mobilizing resources for environmental initiatives and promoting investments that support Brazil's transition toward a more sustainable economy. The bank’s enduring legacy and Medeiros' forward-looking leadership illustrate how a major financial institution can combine innovation and purpose to generate long-term value for clients, communities, and society.

Rappi will receive the BRAVO Beacon of Innovation Award, accepted by one of its founders, Felipe Villamarín.

Founded in Colombia in 2015, Rappi has grown from an on-demand delivery startup into one of Latin America’s most prominent technology platforms, helping pioneer the super app model across the region. Over the past decade, Rappi has built technology that connects millions of consumers with restaurants, retailers and services, while creating new digital growth channels for hundreds of thousands of businesses and independent entrepreneurs. Its platform has expanded well beyond restaurant delivery into areas including quick commerce, financial services and strategic technology partnerships. Rappi has also reported positive EBITDA, marking an important milestone in the company’s evolution toward sustainable growth. At the same time, its impact extends beyond the platform itself: Rappi has helped demonstrate that a technology company built in Latin America can achieve regional scale, attract global investment, develop world-class technology talent and seed a new generation of entrepreneurs across the ecosystem. Rappi is not simply recognized for scaling a business, but for helping expand what is possible for technology companies built in Latin America.

Carlos Barrera, founder and CEO of Atlas Renewable Energy, will be honored with the BRAVO Innovative CEO of the Year Award.

Since founding Atlas Renewable Energy in February 2017, Carlos Barrera has led the company's growth into the largest independent renewable energy producer in Latin America, with a portfolio that has spanned Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay, delivering clean energy to some of the most energy-intensive industries and companies in the region, such as the mining, metals, data centers and chemical sectors. Recognizing early that the expansion of clean energy required dependable energy storage as much as new generation capacity, he championed investments in technologies that have helped transform the region's renewable energy landscape. Under his leadership, Atlas developed landmark projects such as BESS del Desierto, Latin America's first and largest standalone battery energy storage system, as well as a series of hybrid solar-plus-storage facilities that have established new standards for renewable energy infrastructure. The company's continued growth and financial strength were further demonstrated in 2025 through a $3 billion portfolio refinancing at a corporate level, the largest transaction of its kind in Latin America's renewable energy sector, reflecting strong confidence from global financial institutions in Atlas's long-term strategy. Beyond its commercial achievements, Barrera has embedded sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community engagement into the company's business model, demonstrating that large-scale infrastructure development can generate lasting economic, social, and environmental value.

Sponsors: Amazon, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Chubb Latin America, LLYC, Philip Morris International, Bank of America, Castillo Hermanos, Citi, Moody's, Salesforce, The AES Corporation, BlackRock, FedEx, Grupo Mariposa, SBA Communications.


Knowledge Partner: McKinsey & Company.


Media Partners: Americas Quarterly, Bloomberg Línea, CNN en Español, El País, Exame.

Claudia Torrens
COA
ctorrens@as-coa.org