Dallas, TX – October 7, 2014 – Freeman, the leading global partner for integrated marketing solutions for live engagements, today announced that Julio Ramirez has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company. In this role, Ramirez will have responsibility for the accounting, financial planning, tax and business analysis teams.
Ramirez brings a considerable wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, specifically related to strategic planning and finance. His experience includes more than 30 years of building, leading and advising corporations through complex business process improvement projects, global expansion and mergers and acquisitions.
“I am delighted to welcome Julio to Freeman and our leadership team,” said Joe Popolo, chief executive officer of Freeman. “As Freeman continues its growth in both domestic and international markets in support of our clients, Julio’s financial acumen coupled with his strong practical knowledge will help to position us to achieve our long-term objectives.”
Prior to joining Freeman, Ramirez was vice president and treasurer, global tax and strategic planning at Molson Coors Brewing Company, the world’s fifth largest brewer with more than $9 billion in annual revenues. Ramirez was part of the four member executive team at Molson Coors that successfully negotiated and financed the acquisition of StarBev (one of the largest Central and Eastern European brewers) for $3.5 billion. He was a former certified public accountant and served as an Audit and Consulting Partner with KPMG.
Ramirez holds a master’s degree in professional accounting and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami where he graduated summa cum laude. He also served as a captain in the U.S. Army, Combat Engineers, and was a distinguished military graduate.
About Freeman
Founded in 1927, Freeman is the leading global partner for integrated experiential marketing solutions for live engagements including expositions, conventions, corporate events and exhibits. Headquartered in Dallas, with over 70 offices in North America and the U.K., Freeman produces more than 4,300 expositions annually, including 135 of the 250 largest U.S. trade shows, and 11,000 other events worldwide. Customer-driven and family-owned, Freeman offers a total package of solutions, with a scope of products and services unmatched by the competition. An employee-owned company, Freeman places an emphasis on respect for people and providing unparalleled customer service. Freeman has received numerous trade show industry awards for excellence in leadership, creative design, community service, innovation and customer-driven partnerships. For more information, visit www.freeman.com.
