Juan José Bolaños Herrera

Lead HDG’s business development, market expansion, and strategic partnership agenda across Latin America, supporting regional growth for a global company specialized in quality control, inspections, digital quality platforms, supply chain optimization, and post-harvest technologies. Key Focus • Regional expansion and market development • Strategic partnerships across origin and destination markets • Commercial growth and business positioning • Integrated technical and technology-driven solutions • Cross-functional execution across commercial and operational priorities Achivements • Established HDG Latam headquarters in Costa Rica • Designed and implemented a three-year business and financial strategy • Expanded client portfolio and strengthened strategic partnerships across the region HDG | the quality company is an international network with offices in Latin America, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain, along with partners around the world. Together, we support companies in managing the quality of their fresh produce with a complete service package, covering inspections, surveys, claim handing smart software, and training. We offer: -Inspections & Quality Control. -Survey & Claims support. -Real-Time Digital QC (QC4U) & Transport Refrigeration Enhacement (Otflow). -Trainig & Capacity Building via HDG Academy. HDG | the quality company Giving you the GO for quality, impact, and a business as fruitful as your produce.

Founded a business development and strategic advisory platform focused on growth opportunities, market entry, and business diversification across the Latin American agri-food sector. Key Focus • Market entry and commercial development • Strategic advisory for growth and diversification • Opportunity structuring and partnership development • Support for international companies entering the region Impact • Advised Choco Koo (Estonia) on an Cacao farm vertical integration investment initiative in Costa Rica • Structured and negotiated a strategic Memorandum of Understanding related to modified atmosphere packaging solutions • Supported market positioning for international post-harvest, packaging, and ag-tech companies Ceiba Agribusiness is a company dedicated to improving the profitability of agribusiness through technology. We provide Latin American producers and exporters with proven technological solutions that optimize their operations and generate sustainable value. We represent leading global companies with a focus on post-harvest, agricultural technologies and sustainability. We leverage our deep agribusiness knowledge and network to create strategies and implement B2B and B2C programs that attract new customers and facilitate market demand. We are dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in the region, contributing to the growth of the food and agribusiness sector.

I bring a unique combination of agronomical expertise, postharvest technology knowledge, and strategic business management to graduate and executive education, equipping professionals to integrate innovation, sustainability, and efficiency into agro-industrial and horticultural operations. I guide participants to: Identify and assess emerging technologies in controlled-environment and open-field production. Evaluate technical, agronomical, and economic feasibility for technology adoption, including investment analysis and risk assessment. Apply postharvest optimization and cold chain management strategies to reduce waste and ensure quality. Incorporate relevant international standards and regulations (GlobalG.A.P., SMETA, FSMA, EU sustainability frameworks). Combine management and agronomical techniques with cutting-edge tools—automation, digitalization, sensors, data analytics, and AI—for seamless operational success. With over a decade of leadership in international agribusiness development, I blend operational know-how with strategic vision, enabling participants to align technology potential with market realities. My teaching is enriched with real-world case studies, field-based insights, and cross-sector experience, from supply chain design to ESG compliance. Mission: To prepare leaders to make science-based, data-driven, and market-relevant decisions that generate sustainable value across the agribusiness value chain.

Spearheaded strategic initiatives focused on sustainability and customer-centric management at Piñalbo. Directed efforts to deliver high-quality, custom-made produce to valued clientele. • Elaborate and Implement Commercial Strategy: Develop comprehensive commercial strategies tailored to the unique characteristics and dynamics of each regional market, including North America, South America, the Caribbean, Russia, and Europe. Set and track sales targets and profitability goals for each market segment and region, utilizing performance metrics and KPIs • Market Expansion Initiatives: Spearhead market entry initiatives for novelty regions such as Martinique, Chile, Morocco, and China. Develop market entry plans encompassing market analysis, regulatory compliance, distribution channels establishment, and promotional activities. • Prospecting and Client Relationship Management: Proactively identify and engage with potential customers through various channels such as networking events, trade shows, and digital platforms. Utilize exceptional negotiation skills to secure profitable deals and agreements with clients. Effectively communicate across diverse cultural backgrounds to ensure inclusive collaboration and understanding. Consolidate customer demands through active engagement and feedback collection, translating insights into actionable work plans and internal communication programs to ensure customer-centric operations and customized deliveries • Supply Chain Coordination: Liaise with production facilities, packaging houses, and logistics partners to ensure seamless execution of orders and timely delivery of products to customers. Designed the commercial strategy to develop the supply chain under an aligned strategy of +15 growers in the region summarizing +800 ha added to the 300 ha of owned production. • Quality Control and Assurance: Implement quality control measures throughout the production process to ensure consistency and compliance with quality standards.

Located in Costa Rica Piñalbo is an export company growing mainly pineapple and trading fresh produce, focused on high-quality and custom-made deliveries to customers in Europe, North America, and South America. • Strategic planning, financial strategy and budgeting: Developing and implementing strategies, policies, and procedures to achieve business goals, sustainability goals and compliance with the standards for several certification bodies. Establishing main KPIs and OKRs. Identifying opportunities for business development. • Responsible for operations: +300 hectares of crop fields and packing house, head of +150 employees, leading the optimization of the activities with clear communication of standardized procedures and goals for each department heads and teams, fostering collaboration to exceed KPIs goals and follow long-term planning. • Drive continuous improvement initiatives: Aimed to optimize production efficiency, enhance product quality, and minimize waste. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement best practices, process improvements, and technological innovations. Conduct overall risk impact assessments to identify potential contingencies and develop mitigation measures. • Key-stakeholders management and market intelligence: Monitor industry performance metrics, benchmark with competitors and communication with key suppliers and customers to ensure operations adaptiveness and resilience. Main Achievements: • Creation of procedures and departments in the company scaling the team from 70 to 150 employees in three years. • Spearheaded growth of 20% annual revenue through 5 years, achieving Sales for $15 million in 2019. • Designed and relaunched the company’s Brand and created a brand universe, implementing a marketing strategy to serve different segments. • Led the implementation and audit approved for ISO:9001 Certificate. • Led the investment of $2 million in front of a multidisciplinary team to remodel the packing house in 2017-18.

Responsible for operations at the packing house overseeing processes, maintenance, team leadership and administrative management to ensure quality and compliance with regulatory standards. Leader of a team of over 60 people had to apply a deep industry understanding and process optimization, customer relationship management, and communication skills to plan and operate the packaging for our exports over 30 containers per week and responsible for full packaging service under contract to exporters over 20 containers per week. Production Forecasting and Quality Projections: Utilize agronomic expertise and data analysis skills to forecast production levels and quality projections for agricultural products. Conduct comprehensive analysis of harvest data and yield metrics to identify trends, patterns, and variations in crop production.

Souvenir Museum is an authentic Costa Rican handmade crafts store operational over the foundations of sustainable development, fair trade, and responsible consumption. It is called a museum because behind every handicraft there is a story to share. The enterprise specializes in giving an immersive experience of unique national culture with a curated selection of authentic pieces while purchasing, in three different channels of sale: Store, Corporate Gift, and Personalized Products for Interior Design Firms. Main responsabilities: Strategy & Business Development: Entrepreneurship focused on the development of handicrafts value chain and implementing sustainable practices and business capacities in SMEs in Costa Rica. In this role, I was in charge of business development, strategic planning and finance.