COA will honor leaders from LATAM Airlines, Banco do Brasil, Rappi and Atlas Renewable Energy at BRAVO Awards

Council of the Americas will recognize four business leaders and companies at the 31st BRAVO Business Awards on Nov. 19 in Miami. The honorees reflect regional shifts in aviation, banking, digital innovation and renewable energy across Latin America.

Why it matters: - The BRAVO Awards spotlight companies and executives shaping Latin America's long-term growth, investment and competitiveness. - This year's honorees reflect major shifts in aviation recovery, financial modernization, platform-based digital commerce and renewable energy infrastructure. - The Nov. 19 gala in Miami will gather multinational and multilatina executives, entrepreneurs and global investors around the region's business outlook.

What happened: - The Council of the Americas announced the 31st BRAVO Business Awards honorees on Sept. 14, 2026. - The awards will be presented at a gala at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami on Nov. 19, 2026. - Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines, will receive CEO of the Year. - Banco do Brasil will receive the Business Legacy Award, to be accepted by CEO Tarciana Medeiros. - Rappi will receive the Innovation Excellence Award, to be accepted by co-founder Felipe Villamarín. - Carlos Barrera, founder and CEO of Atlas Renewable Energy, will receive Innovative CEO of the Year.

The details: - Susan Segal, president and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, said the awards have recognized leaders for more than three decades whose vision, resilience and commitment have turned their companies into engines of economic growth and sustainable progress. - María Lourdes Teran, vice president of AS/COA Miami and chair of the BRAVO Awards, said the organization wants to recognize companies driving innovation, investment and long-term economic opportunity in Latin America. - The morning symposium tied to the awards will bring together top executives to discuss the region's business agenda. - This year's symposium topics include AI economics, data center and cloud infrastructure investment, how companies are using AI strategically, Latin American expansion into the U.S. and broader business opportunities in the region. - LATAM Airlines, under Alvo since March 2020, emerged from Chapter 11 restructuring and says the airline has since improved financial performance, accelerated digital transformation and boosted operating efficiency. - LATAM's workforce includes about 42,000 employees across the region. - Banco do Brasil, founded in 1808, is Brazil's oldest financial institution and one of Latin America's largest banks. - Medeiros became the first woman to lead Banco do Brasil in January 2023 and has focused on innovation, financial inclusion, sustainability and responsible banking. - Banco do Brasil has expanded support for agribusiness, accelerated digital transformation and increased financing for sustainable initiatives. - Rappi, founded in Colombia in 2015, evolved from an on-demand delivery startup into a regional technology platform. - Rappi has expanded into quick commerce, financial services and strategic technology partnerships. - Rappi reported positive EBITDA, a milestone in its push toward sustainable growth. - Atlas Renewable Energy, founded in February 2017, has grown into Latin America's largest independent renewable power producer. - Atlas operates across Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay and serves energy-intensive industries including mining, metals, data centers and chemicals. - Atlas developed BESS del Desierto, described as the first and largest independent battery energy storage system in Latin America. - Atlas completed a $3 billion corporate portfolio refinancing in 2025, described as the largest transaction of its kind in Latin America's renewable energy sector.

Between the lines: - The honorees point to a common theme: Latin American companies are being recognized not just for scale, but for how they adapted under pressure and built new capabilities. - The awards also show how AI, digital finance and clean energy have become central to the region's business narrative. - COA is using the BRAVO platform to frame Latin America as a source of innovation, not just a destination for capital.

What's next: - COA's BRAVO gala will take place Nov. 19 in Miami. - The associated symposium is expected to surface investor and executive priorities heading into 2027. - The awards will further elevate the profiles of the honorees as they pursue growth across the Americas.

The bottom line: - COA is betting that Latin America's next growth story will be written by companies that combine scale, resilience and innovation.