Hugo Besana

Hugo Besana is an accomplished, commercially driven Chief Financial Officer, operational leader, and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) specialist with over 20 years of international experience piloting financial strategy, corporate restructuring, and high-stakes transactions across Europe and Latin America. Recognized for his ability to engineer robust financial controls, advanced accounting infrastructures, and value-maximizing transaction models, Hugo blends high-impact fiscal stewardship with a keen focus on revenue expansion, corporate growth, and strategic deal execution.

Throughout his progressive career, Hugo has specialized in transforming the finance function into a true strategic partner for business leaders navigating complex transactions. For 16 years, he served as the CFO of Mercado Abierto Electrónico S.A. (MAE) in Argentina, where he managed a $50M budget and directly oversaw finance, controlling, HR, and procurement functions. Founded in 1989, MAE is Argentina’s premier electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities (government and corporate bonds), foreign exchange (FX), derivatives, and interest rates. Unlike a traditional retail stock exchange (like the BYMA/Merval), MAE is an institutional over-the-counter (OTC) electronic market. Its clients and owners are the heavyweights of the financial sector: national and international private banks, provincial banks, currency exchange houses, and major brokerages. If the Central Bank of Argentina wants to issue debt or intervene in the currency market, or if major banks need to trade millions in foreign currency, it heavily happens through MAE’s secure technological rails—an environment requiring rigorous regulatory oversight, strategic financial planning, and keen risk management.

His extensive foundational expertise also includes nearly a decade with global packaging leader Tetra Pak, directing financial and controller operations in both the UK and Latin America, where he successfully led major corporate initiatives, including global SAP implementations, complex international tax and IAS reporting, and cross-border operational integrations.

Beyond traditional financial management, Hugo brings sophisticated M&A acumen to every engagement. Whether evaluating target valuations, conducting rigorous financial due diligence, structuring complex corporate acquisitions, or orchestrating post-merger integrations, he ensures that every transaction is tightly aligned with long-term enterprise value and capital efficiency.

An MBA graduate from Universidad del CEMA and a certified Public Accountant, Hugo is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. He is highly regarded for his capability to execute under extreme pressure, lead multidisciplinary teams, and deliver balanced oversight across M&A strategy, audit, compliance, and growth-oriented value creation.