María del Carmen Bonilla: Sheinbaum's proposal for Undersecretary of Finance

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has nominated María del Carmen Bonilla Rodríguez as the new head of the Undersecretariat of Finance and Public Credit . If ratified by the Congress of the Union , she will become the second woman in the country's history to hold this strategic position for national finances.

The proposal will be discussed on August 13th in the Third Committee on Economic Affairs of the Permanent Commission , along with the appointment of Omar Reyes Colmenares as head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) . The vote will mark the next step in confirming or rejecting the appointment.

The Undersecretariat of Finance and Public Credit is one of the most important areas within the Ministry of Finance , responsible for coordinating the Federal Government's fiscal policy, financial planning, and public debt strategy.

The position has been vacant since March, when Édgar Amador Zamora took over as finance secretary following the departure of Rogelio Ramírez de la O. This leaves Bonilla responsible for continuing an agenda of macroeconomic stability in a global context marked by market volatility and the challenges of sustainable financing.

Since September 2021, María del Carmen Bonilla has served as head of the Public Credit and International Affairs Unit at the SHCP , where she has been recognized for designing and developing sustainable financing curves in local and foreign currencies.

His work has been fundamental to the country's debt issuance strategy, positioning Mexico as a benchmark in financial instruments that meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.

Prior to this position, she was Director General of Fundraising in the same unit, where she managed the Federal Government's public debt portfolio, a task that requires a medium- and long-term strategic vision to balance costs and risks.

At the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) , she served as Investment Coordinator between April 2019 and July 2020, managing assets worth 280 billion pesos , a figure that reflects the scope of her responsibilities in the country's largest social security system.

Before entering the public sector, Bonilla gained 11 years of experience as a derivatives trader at international banks such as HSBC and Santander , which gave her a deep understanding of global financial markets and risk hedging strategies.

She holds a degree in Corporate Finance and Banking from the School of Actuarial Science at Universidad Anáhuac del Sur , and holds a current certification from the Mexican Association of Stock Market Institutions (AMIB) .

Her profile combines a solid academic background with a professional career spanning both the private and public sectors, which could facilitate her management in a position that requires negotiating with investors, international organizations, and rating agencies.

María del Carmen Bonilla is a member of the International Society of Female Professionals (ISFP) , a global network focused on strengthening female leadership in various fields. Her possible appointment as undersecretary would represent a further step toward the inclusion of women in key positions in the federal public administration.

If ratified, she would be the second woman in Mexican history to hold this undersecretary position, a notable development in a sector where the presence of women in senior leadership positions has been limited.

If Congress confirms his appointment, Bonilla will face several challenges:

• Maintain the confidence of international markets in Mexican debt.
• Promote sustainable financing projects , in line with global trends.
• Coordinate fiscal policy in an economic environment marked by inflationary pressures and slowing growth.
• Ensure efficient management of public debt to avoid increases in the country's financial costs.

Furthermore, his administration could be instrumental in strengthening Mexico's relationship with multilateral organizations and expanding the use of green and social financial instruments, areas where he has already demonstrated positive results.

The combination of international experience, management of large portfolios, and market knowledge makes María del Carmen Bonilla one of the most relevant figures in the current Mexican financial landscape.

Her eventual appointment as Undersecretary of Finance would not only mark a milestone in terms of gender, but could also signify the continuation of a responsible and sustainability-oriented financing policy. The appointment of María del Carmen Bonilla as Undersecretary of Finance, if ratified, could strengthen Mexico's stability and credibility in the financial markets. With more than 16 years of experience, her career reflects a blend of technical discipline and strategic vision that could be key to addressing the upcoming economic challenges.

The appointment of María del Carmen Bonilla as Undersecretary of Finance, if ratified, could strengthen Mexico's stability and credibility in the financial markets. With more than 16 years of experience, her track record reflects a blend of technical discipline and strategic vision that could be key to addressing the upcoming economic challenges.