With more than 25 years of international finance and leadership experience, Ricardo brings a wealth of expertise in both the private and public sectors. As Co-CEO, he leads Palladium’s work in the Americas, overseeing business growth, operational excellence and the delivery of impactful programs across the globe.

Ricardo’s career has been defined by his strategic leadership driving public private partnerships and leveraging private sector funds for development outcomes. With a background in business transformation, accounting, and investment, he brings a unique understanding of how to blend financial strategy with development objectives, creating scalable solutions that drive value for both communities and businesses.

He has served as Managing Director of FHI Partners, a subsidiary of FHI 360, as well as Executive Vice President of AMEX International, Inc., where he led global development consulting efforts. His tenure at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was marked by a commitment to advancing groundbreaking solutions, and he played an instrumental role in the launch of the U.S. Global Development Lab, a pioneering initiative that accelerates development impact through innovative approaches and partnerships.

With Ricardo’s stewardship, Palladium is dedicated to engaging the private sector in global problem solving through shared value and collective impact methods. His approach emphasizes collaboration, scalability, and measurable impact, aligning the goals of development with business objectives to create long term value for our clients.

Ricardo holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in accounting from Temple University, where he recently received a Distinguished Alumni award in recognition of his significant contributions to both the business and development sectors.