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Juan Verde
Juan Verde
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Juan Verde Suárez (born July 7, 1971) is a Spanish business and social entrepreneur who assisted the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign,[2] as well as earlier campaigns of prominent Democrats such as President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senator John Kerry, and Senator Ted Kennedy.[3] He is currently a member of the President's Export Council, an advisory body to the White House on international trade and U.S. competitiveness in international markets, under President Biden.[4]

Key Information

Verde developed and directed a strategy designed to mobilize millions of American citizens residing outside of the United States for the Obama campaign in 2008 and 2012,[2] an effort he revived on behalf of the Biden campaign in 2020.[5] He previously served as International Co-chair for the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama in 2012.[3] He advised both candidates on strategies for capturing the Hispanic vote as well as international trade and sustainability-related issues.[6]

In addition to his role as a political strategist, Juan Verde is a member of the board of directors and Vice Chairman of Volcan Compañía Minera, a leading mining company in Latin America. Verde is founder and President of the U.S. consultancy firm Alamo Solutions, which advises governments and corporations on market expansion, strategy, and sustainability, and The Advanced Leadership Foundation, a U.S.-based 501(c)3 focused on training next-generation global leaders.[7] Currently, Verde sits on the Board of Advisors of the American Sustainable Business Council.[8]

Early years and education

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Verde was born in Telde, Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) on July 7, 1971.[9] He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Boston University and a master's degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. He has completed post-graduate business studies at Georgetown University and Tufts University. Verde is a former Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute fellow.[10]

Policy and government

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Verde's career in government began as a Business and Legislative Aide in the Boston Mayor's Office and the Boston City Council, which later led to a position as a political and economic advisor for the Boston Mayor Ray Flynn. He then worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Clinton Administration, first in the Office of Latin America as an analyst and subsequently in the Minority Business Development Agency as an international trade coordinator.[11]

Verde joined the Corporate Executive Board, now owned by Gartner, in 1998. He served as a Director for Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. He founded several business-centered policy initiatives, including the PASS Group (2002), the Canary Islands chapter and the Gibraltar chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce Spain (2006 and 2014, respectively), Think Plus Madrid (2004), and The Climate Reality Project Spain (2006), and worked as a consultant to business and political leaders in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.[12]

In 2009, Verde returned to U.S. government service via an appointment by President Barack Obama as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the United States Department of Commerce, where he served until 2011. While holding this position, he led the department's efforts to resolve issues related to trade policy and access to markets faced by United States companies.[9] As Deputy Assistant Secretary, Verde was also responsible for developing policies and programs to foster economic and trade relations within the region. He took part in the U.S. government delegation headed by Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Geoffrey R. Pyatt in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on May 17, 2011. The exhibition had over fifty American companies with business interests in Turkmenistan, showcasing their goods and services to Turkmenistan government officials.[13][14]

Business Expo in Turkmenistan - May 2011

In October 2011, Verde joined the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama as International Co-chair.[3] More recently, Verde has joined the presidential campaign of Vice President Joe Biden as one of the campaign's Latino Outreach leaders.[2][15]

Business roles

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Verde has served on a number of corporate, government, and university advisory boards, including the Government of Lithuania's International Advisory Committee, the Alumni Board of Directors at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and the boards of directors of corporations such as Abengoa Bioenergy S.A., a global biotech ethanol company; Santander Investments, N.A., a U.S. subsidiary of the Spanish financial institution Grupo Santander;[16] and Andina Energy Corp., a global diversified energy corporation.

In 2017, he founded Alamo Solutions LLC, an international consultancy focused on innovation and sustainable business.[17]

Advocacy

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Verde advocates for climate change action in the form of a transition to a "green economy."[18][19] He attributes his interest in climate change and sustainable business activism to his work with Vice President Al Gore during the latter's presidential campaign in 2000. He joined the board of directors of the American Sustainable Business Council in 2019.[11]

Verde also works to promote the business and policy interests of the Latino community in the United States. He served on the board of the Latino Victory Project in 2020 to seek financial support for the Biden campaign from the Latino community. Before that, he also served from 2016 to 2019 on the board of directors of the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), an organization seeking to improve the representation of Latino executives on corporate boards. He had previously served as a member of the Hispanic Leadership Council for the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign and the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign.[20]

Personal life

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Verde was married to Tiziana Domínguez from 2011 to 2018.[21][22] They have two children together.

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Juan Verde Suárez is a Spanish-born international strategist and entrepreneur who advises public and private sector clients on attracting foreign investment and promoting sustainable economic development. With over three decades of experience, he has held senior roles in the U.S. government, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the Department of Commerce during the Obama administration, where he focused on trade promotion and economic diplomacy. Verde holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University and graduated cum laude with dual degrees in Political Science and International Relations from Boston University. In the political sphere, he has supported Democratic campaigns, serving as a policy advisor, fundraiser, and organizer for the Biden-Harris 2020 presidential effort, and earlier worked as a business and legislative aide in Boston's municipal government. Beyond government, Verde consults for Fortune 500 companies and serves on corporate boards, such as those of Interoil Exploration and Production and Volcan Compañía Minera, emphasizing strategies for geopolitical resilience and green economic transitions. As a keynote speaker, he addresses global competitiveness and environmental sustainability, drawing on his dual U.S.-Spanish background to bridge transatlantic business opportunities.

Early Life and Education

Origins in Spain and Immigration to the United States

Juan Verde was born in 1971 in , a municipality in within the , an autonomous community of located off the northwestern coast of . The , known for their volcanic landscapes and strategic position bridging , , and the Americas, have historically served as a point of due to economic challenges in the region during the late . Verde grew up in modest circumstances within a humble family, reflecting the socioeconomic realities faced by many households in the islands at the time, where limited local opportunities often prompted migration. At the age of 15, Verde immigrated to the , embarking on a journey typical of young immigrants from economically constrained backgrounds seeking education and prospects unavailable in their homeland. This move, occurring around 1986 given his birth year, positioned him to pursue higher education and professional development in America, marking the beginning of his transition from Spanish roots to an international career. While specific motivations such as family support or scholarships are not detailed in available accounts, his trajectory underscores the causal role of economic incentives in driving such relocations, as evidenced by broader patterns of Canary Islands emigration to during that era.

Academic Background and Early Influences

Juan Verde immigrated to the from the , , at the age of 15 without proficiency in English, an experience that underscored his early determination to adapt and pursue higher education in a new cultural and linguistic environment. This transition from his Spanish origins to American academia likely fostered an initial focus on and , fields that bridged his dual cultural perspectives. He obtained a degree cum laude in and from , completing his undergraduate studies with distinction in disciplines emphasizing global affairs and governance. Following this, Verde pursued advanced training at , earning a from the Kennedy School of Government, which equipped him with expertise in analysis and administration. Early intellectual influences appear rooted in his immigrant background and exposure to U.S. democratic institutions during formative years, driving an interest in trade, international strategy, and —evident in his subsequent career trajectory from academia to roles. No specific mentors or publications from this period are prominently documented in available biographical accounts, though his academic choices reflect a pragmatic orientation toward tools for cross-border challenges.

Professional Career in Business and Strategy

Initial Business Roles and Entrepreneurship

Juan Verde's initial foray into entrepreneurship involved founding and presiding over the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in the , an organization aimed at strengthening economic ties between the and the Spanish . This role positioned him as a key facilitator for U.S. business interests in the region, leveraging his bilingual background and connections from his origins in the . Subsequently, Verde established PASS Inc., a strategic advisory firm dedicated to guiding U.S. companies in expanding into European markets, with operations spanning approximately 1999 to 2003. The firm provided specialized consulting on market entry, regulatory navigation, and partnership development, reflecting Verde's expertise in honed from earlier positions, including as an international trade analyst and consultant at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the administration's second term (1997–2001). These ventures underscored his focus on cross-Atlantic business strategy, predating his broader consulting work with firms. Prior to these entrepreneurial initiatives, Verde contributed to corporate strategy as Director for and the at the Corporate Executive Board Inc. (NASDAQ: CEB), where he advised over 400 companies on operational and market challenges. This experience bridged government trade analysis and private-sector entrepreneurship, enabling PASS Inc. to target similar corporate clients seeking European footholds.

Consulting for Investment Attraction and Corporate Strategy

Juan Verde founded Alamo Solutions, a consultancy firm focused on bridging economic opportunities between the , , and beyond through strategies for market expansion and investment attraction. The firm advises both entities and private corporations on developing innovative approaches to draw , particularly in sectors. His work emphasizes forging public-private alliances to accelerate and enhance competitiveness. In corporate strategy consulting, Verde has provided guidance to Fortune 500 companies such as , Cisco, SAS Airlines, and , helping them navigate international markets and optimize strategic positioning. These engagements involve tailoring solutions for expansion into emerging economies, leveraging his expertise in trade policy and alliance-building derived from prior roles in international advisory positions. For governments, he has collaborated with entities in and to design policies aimed at attracting investment, alongside advisory work for Latin American regional leaders and U.S. state officials on economic development initiatives. Verde's consulting extends to partnerships with multilateral institutions, including the and the World Bank, where he contributes to frameworks promoting sustainable investment flows. He also established the American Chamber of Commerce in the , facilitating business networks to boost trade and investment between the U.S. and European territories. These efforts underscore a consistent focus on practical, data-driven strategies that prioritize long-term economic resilience over short-term gains, though specific quantifiable outcomes from individual projects remain proprietary or undisclosed in public records.

Political Involvement and Advisory Roles

Engagement in U.S. Democratic Politics

Juan Verde's initial involvement in U.S. Democratic politics occurred in the early 1990s, when he worked for , the chairman of the who later served as Secretary of Commerce under President . Early in his career, Verde also participated as a fellow at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, an organization aligned with Democratic priorities on Latino issues. Throughout his professional life, Verde has provided support to Democratic candidates and initiatives spanning multiple administrations, including collaborations with , , , , , and on policy and advocacy efforts. These engagements focused on , trade, and , reflecting his expertise in attracting investment and promoting U.S. interests abroad. Verde played a prominent role in the 2020 Joe Biden presidential campaign, acting as a policy advisor, fundraiser, and organizer, while chairing Americans Abroad for Biden to mobilize expatriate support. He contributed to fundraising events and strategy, leveraging his international network to bolster the campaign's global outreach. Following the election, Verde was appointed to President Biden's Export Council, advising on trade promotion, though this role extended his prior campaign contributions into formal policy input.

International Government Advisory Positions

Juan Verde has consulted for the governments of and , providing strategic advice on attracting foreign investment and fostering sustainable . These roles involved crafting policies and initiatives to enhance international competitiveness and economic resilience in those jurisdictions. Through his private sector expertise, Verde has extended advisory services to international institutions such as the and the World Bank, emphasizing transitions and strategic alliances for clients. His engagements prioritize empirical approaches to promotion, drawing on data-driven models rather than unsubstantiated ideological frameworks. Specific outcomes from these advisory positions remain limited in public documentation, reflecting the confidential nature of such consultations.

Advocacy for Sustainability and Economic Policy

Promotion of Green Economy Initiatives

Juan Verde has promoted green economy initiatives by collaborating with former U.S. Vice President to establish and lead branches of in and , focusing on training leaders to address through sustainable practices. This effort emphasized disseminating strategies for transitioning to low-carbon economies, including adoption and emission reductions. During his tenure in the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Obama administration, Verde contributed to promoting exports and technologies as part of broader strategies. His work involved facilitating in clean energy sectors, positioning the as a driver of job creation and competitiveness. As founder and president of Alamo Solutions, a consultancy advising governments and corporations, Verde has designed attraction strategies centered on sustainable economic models, including principles and green technology deployment. These initiatives target in renewables and energy efficiency to foster long-term growth amid environmental constraints. Verde has delivered keynotes advocating for the as both a tool against threats and an opportunity, such as at the SME Finance Forum where he highlighted its potential for business expansion. In a 2022 address, he framed the transition to as essential for equitable global development, urging alliances between public and private sectors. He has also participated in UN conferences, including COP25 in 2019, to advance policy dialogues on green economic reforms.

Criticisms, Economic Realities, and Policy Outcomes

Critics of the transition, which Verde promotes as a pathway to sustainable growth and investment attraction, contend that it often overlooks the substantial upfront costs and uneven distributional effects, prioritizing environmental goals over immediate economic viability. For example, aggressive subsidies in during the early 2000s, aligned with broader , generated a deficit surpassing €28 billion by due to feed-in tariffs outpacing revenues, forcing retroactive reforms that diminished returns for photovoltaic investors by an estimated 20-30% post-. These measures, while advancing capacity to over 50% of by 2023, contributed to chronic fiscal burdens and higher prices averaging €0.25/kWh for households in 2022, exacerbating for low-income groups. Economic realities reveal that green policies frequently entail trade-offs, including job displacement in sectors without equivalent net employment gains in renewables, as new technologies fail to scale income and job impacts at local levels. Empirical reviews indicate that stringent environmental regulations correlate with reduced competitiveness in trade-exposed industries, with evidence of "pollution haven" shifts where firms relocate to laxer jurisdictions, offsetting domestic emission reductions at global scales. In high-carbon regions pursuing transitions akin to Verde's advocated models, production declines and competitive losses have materialized, as seen in carbon-intensive areas facing 5-10% output reductions under scenarios. Moreover, macro analyses of green recovery plans project annual costs up to $483 billion in the U.S., yielding 2-3% lower GDP and consumption due to resource reallocation inefficiencies. Policy outcomes from implemented green initiatives underscore mixed results, with environmental gains often accompanied by unintended economic strains. Spain's post-2013 renewable reforms stabilized deficits but stifled , leading to stalled solar deployments until recent auctions revived capacity additions of 3 GW annually from 2021-2024, yet overall system costs remain elevated at €10-15 billion yearly in network and expenditures. Broader empirical assessments, such as those of the EU's Green Deal framework, estimate transition investments exceeding €1 trillion by 2030, with benefits like reduced CO2 emissions projected at 55% below 1990 levels, but at the expense of short-term inflation spikes and 1-2% GDP drags in energy-dependent economies. Critics, including analyses from conservative think tanks, argue these outcomes validate concerns that optimistic projections by advocates like Verde underestimate fiscal and opportunity costs, as evidenced by the American Enterprise Institute's finding that Green New Deal-style policies yield negligible climate benefits relative to economic disruptions. While some studies highlight long-term savings from avoided climate damages estimated at $3.3 trillion annually for U.S. emission cuts, causal evidence links accelerated transitions to heightened vulnerabilities in supply chains and energy security.

Personal Life and Public Profile

Family, Residence, and Personal Background

Juan Verde was born on July 7, 1971, in , , , . Raised in modest circumstances in the backstreets of , he immigrated to the at age 15, arriving without proficiency in English. Verde maintains a primary residence in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while frequently traveling to Spain and Washington, D.C., for professional and personal commitments. He is the father of two children.

Keynote Speaking and Media Presence

Juan Verde has established himself as a sought-after keynote speaker on topics including sustainable economic development, geopolitical trends, corporate resilience, and the transition to circular economies. Drawing from his advisory roles in U.S. presidential administrations and corporate strategy, he delivers speeches emphasizing practical applications of green initiatives for business profitability and global adaptation. His presentations often feature a charismatic style that combines humor, data-driven insights, and calls to action, as noted in speaker profiles from agencies representing him internationally. Notable speaking engagements include a at the SME Finance Forum on "Green Economy: A Great Business and Investment," where he highlighted investment opportunities in . In 2018, he served as speaker at the AmCham Gibraltar Charity Gala, focusing on U.S. corporate and political strategy amid uncertainties. That same year, at the Cumbre Economía Circular España, Verde welcomed former U.S. President and addressed transitions. More recently, he delivered the inaugural conference at Colexio M. Peleteiro for the 2023-2024 , and spoke at TEDxCibeles on advancing toward a . In April 2025, he presented as speaker at in , underscoring his ongoing demand in European industrial forums. Verde's media presence centers on commentary for Spanish-language outlets, leveraging his expertise in U.S. and international strategy. He provided analysis during the November 2020 U.S. election on , discussing campaign dynamics. In May 2024, he joined El País's program Y ahora qué as an analyst for the U.S. electoral process, offering insights as a former Biden advisor. Later that year, in August 2024, he evaluated the for media appearances, critiquing party strategies. These contributions position him as a frequent voice on transatlantic political intersections, though primarily in non-U.S. mainstream networks.

References

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