Amaury Rivera
Amaury Rivera | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1962 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, business executive |
| Known for | Chairman and CEO of Kinetics Systems Caribe; launching competitors to Puerto Rico Telephone Company |
Amaury Rivera (born June 15, 1962) held the positions of chairman and CEO at Kinetics Systems Caribe. Following the deregulation of the telecommunications market in 1996, he was instrumental in launching the first two competitors to the Puerto Rico Telephone Company.
Early life and education
Rivera obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Boston University. He furthered his education with specialized studies in finance at New York University and underwriting at The Bond School.
Business
Between 2003 and 2008, Rivera served as the chief executive officer of Kinetics Systems Caribe. Prior to this, from 2000 to 2003, he acted as corporate senior vice president for strategic marketing based in Sunrise, Florida, while also leading Convergence Communications, Inc. as CEO. During his tenure there, he secured a groundbreaking $27 million channel partnership with Guardent for round-the-clock managed security services—one of the largest agreements in the sector at that time.
From 1998 to 2000, Rivera was senior vice president of marketing at IUSACELL, SA de CV, a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Grupo IUSA operating in Mexico. His efforts earned him recognition as Mexico’s top marketing executive by the Mexican Businessmen Chamber in 1998.
Between 1996 and 1998, Rivera played a pivotal role in establishing Centennial and Lamda Communications, thereby introducing competition into Puerto Rico’s wireless and wireline telecommunications markets following the Telecommunications Act of 1996. His earlier career includes serving as vice president and general manager at Perry Products of Puerto Rico (1993–1995), assistant to the president and vice president roles at Industrias Vassallo Inc. (1989–1993), and working as a financial analyst and investment banker with Bear Stearns & Co. in New York City (1984–1989).
Active and past board participation
Rivera has been an independent director on the board of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.
He has also held several leadership positions within the Puerto Rico Products Association, including Secretary, Vice President, and President of its Board.
In 1997, he chaired the Universal Service Committee under the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Board.
During President Bill Clinton’s administration, Rivera contributed as a member of the Small Business Round Table on Exports overseen by Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown.
Additionally, he served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Businesses and led the hearings held in San Juan in 1996.
From 1995 to 1996, Rivera participated on the Export Committee for the Center of Opportunities for Minority Businesses affiliated with the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Awards and recognition
- Honored as Mexico’s Best Business Executive in Marketing by the Mexican Businessmen Chamber Association in 1998.
- Recognized among Puerto Rico’s Top Ten Business Leaders by Caribbean Business in 1997.
- Featured by Revista Caras as one of the most accomplished young executives under forty years old in 1998.
- Awarded “The Young Businessman of the Year” by the Young Businessman Committee of the Interamerican Business Association in 1995.
- Received a unanimous commendation from the Puerto Rico Legislature acknowledging his leadership as president of the Puerto Rico Products Association.