Mr. Villalobos has extensive experience in the financial services and retail industries. In 2006 / 2007, led by business partner Mario Trujillo, Mr. Villalobos and Mr. Joseph Venezia (colleague/partner) performed the search, planning, fundraising and execution of a strategy to acquire another “Platform” (RQI) to become a leading electronic funds transfer company in the US and Europe serving Latin America. RQI was successfully acquired in April 2008 in partnership with Institutional Private Equity Investors, led by Palladium Equity Capital. At RQI, he is responsible for the company’s International business and growth strategy including growth throughout Latin America and Europe.
From 2003 to 2006 he was a member of the management team that acquired Vigo Remittance Corp. in 2003 and was successfully sold to First Data Corp. in October 2005. Vigo was the largest privately held, consumer money transfer company in the world focused primarily on the US to Latin America market. During his three years with Vigo, he served in various key international sales positions of increasing responsibility as well as served as the main link between the company’s international and US sales organizations. Mr. Villalobos’ initial role was Regional Sales Director, which was responsible for the business development and network expansion of the Central and South America regions. During his three year tenure, Vigo’s transactions to Central America and revenues increased well over 100%. After becoming Vice President of Latin America, he assumed responsibility for the company’s growth efforts in Vigo’s most important international regions of Mexico and Central America. These regions, which comprised 75% of Vigo’s total business, generated annual revenues in excess of $100 Million. Ultimately, he served as Senior Vice President leading the team responsible for the business development, network expansion, contract negotiation and all growth initiatives of the company’s entire Latin America region which comprised over 95% of the total business.
Prior to joining Vigo, Mr. Villalobos had a 7-year career at Bank of America working in the bank’s US domestic and International divisions. From 1998 to 2003 he was the senior financial analyst for the bank’s Restaurant Finance Group. In that role he defined financial solutions for clients in the franchised restaurant industry, offering a diverse array of banking products and services including senior debt, sale leaseback and M&A advisory services. Prior to that, he served as a Global financial analyst for the bank’s International division providing financial services to large corporations and banks throughout Latin America.
Mr. Villalobos holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a Minor in Finance from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
