Team | Aval Banca Inversión

Our team of specialized experts is committed to delivering top-tier financial advisory services
Senior Team
Luis Carlos Sarmiento Carvajal
CEO, Managing Director
Paola Mouthon Barrero
Executive Director
Jorge Buitrago
Executive Director
Jaime Esteban Palacio
Senior Manager
Mario Andrés Guerrero
Senior Manager
Luis Felipe Cobos
Director Jurídico
Luis Carlos Sarmiento Carvajal
CEO, Managing Director
Business Administrator from the University of Miami, MBA from Cornell University. His professional experience includes roles as an Investment Analyst at Merrill Lynch and as an Investment Associate at JP Morgan. Since September 2020, held the position of Vice President of Investment Banking at Corficolombiana and since February 2025 was appointed as the President of Aval Investment Banking. Additionally, in accordance with Decree 1674 of October 21, 2016, he is not categorized as a Politically Exposed Person (PEP).
Paola Mouthon Barrero
Executive Director
Finance and international relations professional with a degree from Universidad Externado de Colombia and an Executive MBA from Inalde Business School. She has 20 years of experience in capital raising through project finance, syndicated loans, and capital markets. Her expertise spans across various sectors, including infrastructure, telecommunications, hydrocarbons, financial services, consumer goods, and hospitality. Since joining Aval Investment Banking in 2005, she has successfully led transactions exceeding COP 8,0 Trillion, particularly in syndicated loans and bond issuances in both local and international markets.
Jorge Buitrago
Executive Director
Industrial Engineer from Universidad de los Andes with an MBA from London Business School, he has over 18 years of experience in investment banking and investment management. He specializes in Project Finance and M&A, having led transactions for over COP 10 Trillion, including Bogotá's EV fleet financing and the Pacífico 1 project, recognized as the “Best Local Currency Financing” in 2016. He also advised tenders on Corficolombiana's 4G program and Grupo Aval’s NYSE IPO. Prior to Aval Investment Banking, he worked in a private equity fund targeting Colombia, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Jaime Esteban Palacio
Senior Manager
Economist from the Universidad de los Andes with more than 18 years of experience in the financial sector, including more than 15 years in investment banking. He joined ABI in October 2021 and has led multiple advisory projects in project finance, structured debt, and M&A. Previously, he served as director and vice president at Helm Investment Banking, associate at BBVA Investment Banking, financial advisor at Selfinver Investment Banking, and corporate credit analyst at Banco de Bogotá.
Mario Andrés Guerrero
Senior Manager
Industrial Engineer and Economist with a Master's in Finance from Universidad de los Andes, he has over 12 years of experience in the financial sector, including 9 years in investment banking. He has led and participated in transactions exceeding USD 8 billion across various areas such as project finance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital markets (both bonds and equities in local and international markets), and structured financing. His experience spans across several sectors, including infrastructure, renewable energy, telecommunications, consumer goods, and financial services. Since 2021, he has been a member of Aval Investment Banking, having previously worked in the investment banking and structured operations teams at Bancolombia.
Luis Felipe Cobos
Director Jurídico
Abogado del Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, especialista en derecho financiero de la misma universidad. Ha trabajado en firmas de abogados, establecimientos bancarios y bancas de inversión. Con más de 8 años de experiencia profesional, de los cuales 6 han sido en distintas compañías del Grupo Aval, ha participado en múltiples estructuras de financiamiento de proyectos y créditos estructurados, con enfoque en infraestructura, corporativo y proyectos de generación de energía. Es representante legal de Aval Banca de Inversión.