Title: Chief Executive Officer
Company: Citi Costa Rica
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Edward F. Sanchez, Chief Executive Officer at Citi Costa Rica, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Finance.
Mr. Sanchez has established a distinguished career spanning four decades in the financial services and consulting industries, marked by progressive leadership roles and a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Since 2015, he has served as the chief executive officer for Citi Costa Rica, the most profitable bank in the country. In this capacity, Mr. Sanchez manages the bank’s operations and serves a client base of approximately 450 clients. He oversees critical functions including human resources, operations, finance and risk management, ensuring the institution’s continued growth and stability, and has been instrumental in delivering industry-leading profitability while earning the highest Citi performance ratings.
Before his current role, Mr. Sanchez was the head of Latin America regional account management banking and a managing director for Citi in São Paulo, Brazil, from 2013 to 2015. During this period, he oversaw regional account strategies and strengthened client relationships across Latin America. Between 2010 and 2013, Mr. Sanchez excelled as the head of corporate bank and managing director at Citi in São Paulo, where he led corporate banking initiatives and managed key accounts in one of the region’s most dynamic markets.
Mr. Sanchez held numerous other positions during the first 25 years of his career with Citi. From 2000 to 2010, he was the head of corporate and investment banking and managing director for Citi in the Central America and Caribbean region. His earlier experience included serving as the director of corporate finance for Citi in Colombia and Venezuela between 1998 and 2000, and as the director of corporate finance for Citi in Caracas, Venezuela, from 1992 to 1998.
Between 1986 and 1992, Mr. Sanchez excelled as a corporate finance associate and as a vice president at Citi in São Paulo. He began his tenure as a management associate from 1985 to 1986 after being recruited by a prominent mentor who recognized his potential for international leadership within the Latin American division. This early guidance shaped Mr. Sanchez’s view of his work not merely as a job but as a lifelong career.
Before joining Citi, Mr. Sanchez worked as a consulting manager at Arthur Andersen Consulting from 1977 to 1982. During this time, he completed two transformative international assignments that profoundly influenced his professional trajectory. His first assignment took him to Lagos, Nigeria, where he gained invaluable insights into Black identity, the challenges faced by Black Americans and the historical context of the slave trade from West Africa. The recognition he received from the managing partner in Nigeria further propelled his career forward. Mr. Sanchez’s second assignment in Mexico City introduced him to the oil and gas sector through work with Pemex, deepening his understanding of refineries, industry pricing and political dynamics.
Mr. Sanchez’s academic background has been instrumental in shaping his approach to leadership and problem-solving. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from The W. A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University, graduating in 1977, followed by a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University in 1985. Mr. Sanchez’s commitment to continuous learning is evident through numerous credentials focused on leadership development, diversity and sustainability. These include an executive leadership certificate in fostering inclusion and diversity from the Yale School of Management, an executive leadership certificate in neuroscience and leading high-performance teams from Duke University, and a leadership program certification in leading with data and analytics from The University of Chicago. Additional certifications from LinkedIn Corporation covered topics such as sustainability strategies, inspirational leadership skills and facilities management.
In addition to his executive responsibilities at Citi, Mr. Sanchez has contributed significantly to professional organizations. Most notably, he has served as the vice president and treasurer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, his civic engagement has included serving on the board of Junior Achievement.
Throughout his career at Citi, Mr. Sanchez achieved several milestones that stand out as highlights of his professional journey. He became the chief executive officer of a country within Citi, a distinction that reflects both his leadership acumen and dedication to organizational goals set by his mentor. He also earned the designation of business senior credit officer for his expertise in risk management and control. Upon relocating to Brazil, Mr. Sanchez’s title was elevated to business SEO II, marking another significant achievement within the organization.
A strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, Mr. Sanchez has made significant contributions as a senior sponsor for the Black Network at Citi, an initiative that, under his leadership, grew into the largest Black-affiliation network within Citi Latin America through targeted hiring of Black professionals. Mr. Sanchez also founded the Women’s Network at Citi to promote opportunities for women professionals, resulting in increased representation for women within Costa Rica, and launched the Disability Network at Citi in 2024 with a mission to attract more employees with disabilities. Moreover, he has spent several years reverse mentoring within Citi’s LGBTQ+ Pride Network.
Beyond these networks, Mr. Sanchez has led annual community service projects with Citibankers focused on refurbishing educational facilities for children with disabilities, including painting classrooms and repairing infrastructure at the largest elementary school for children with disabilities in Costa Rica over recent years.
Mr. Sanchez attributes much of his success to foundational values instilled by his parents. Looking ahead, he is dedicated to prioritizing both mental and physical well-being while considering credentials in pastoral work, reflecting an aspiration to serve as an example for others seeking a balance between personal fulfillment and professional achievement.
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