Maria Fernanda Reyes

Maria Fernanda Reyes is a globally renowned finance executive with over 20 years of leadership in corporate strategy, sustainable finance, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Maria built an impressive international career advising Fortune 500 companies, governments, and multilateral institutions on aligning profitability with purpose.

Maria holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University. She began her career at JPMorgan Chase in New York, working in emerging markets investment strategy before transitioning into sustainability-focused finance. Her ability to bridge traditional financial metrics with ESG performance indicators quickly set her apart in a rapidly evolving industry.

From 2016 to 2023, Maria served as Chief Sustainability Officer at Santander Group in Madrid, where she developed and led the bank’s global ESG framework across 11 countries. She played a pivotal role in launching Santander’s $120 billion green lending portfolio, implementing carbon disclosure mechanisms, and embedding ESG into core risk management and investment decision-making.

Currently, Maria is the Managing Director of Sustainable Strategy at BlackRock, where she oversees ESG advisory for institutional clients and leads impact investment initiatives across Latin America and Southeast Asia. Under her leadership, BlackRock has expanded its ESG assets under management and significantly enhanced client transparency reporting tools.

A regular speaker at the World Economic Forum and the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit, Maria is passionate about inclusive capitalism and driving long-term value creation for all stakeholders. She sits on multiple advisory boards, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

Maria’s mission is to redefine how capital can address global challenges—from climate change to social inequality—without compromising growth or competitiveness.