Bureau Veritas Americas EVP Santiago Arias Duval has been appointed Executive Vice-President for the Americas region, effective November 17, 2025, in alignment with the company’s revamped operating model introduced earlier this year.
Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, has announced the appointment of Santiago Arias Duval as the new Executive Vice-President for the Americas, effective November 17, 2025. This leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for the organization, which has been undergoing strategic realignment to strengthen regional autonomy, unlock new market opportunities, and accelerate growth across North, Central, and South America.
The appointment aligns closely with the company’s revamped operating model, introduced earlier this year, which emphasizes regional decision-making, stronger product-line deployment, and improved global coordination. With the Americas positioned as one of the highest-potential regions within the TIC industry, Bureau Veritas is placing significant focus on leadership excellence to drive its long-term ambitions.
A New Regional Structure Designed for Growth
In September 2025, Bureau Veritas initiated a major restructuring effort aimed at modernizing its operational framework. The goal was to create a more agile, region-focused leadership system capable of responding quickly to changing market dynamics, customer expectations, and industry demand.
The new organizational model grants regions—particularly the Americas—more authority to shape strategy, customize offerings, and optimize resource deployment. By decentralizing certain aspects of decision-making, Bureau Veritas intends to accelerate time-to-market for services, improve client engagement, and strengthen local business agility.
Under this structure:
1. Regional Autonomy Increases
Regions now have more flexibility to:
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Tailor global product lines to local market needs
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Deploy regional innovations at scale
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Strengthen customer relationships through localized expertise
This strategic shift is designed to help the Americas region take full advantage of emerging opportunities in sectors like energy transition, infrastructure development, industrial manufacturing, and sustainability.
2. Enhanced Cross-Selling Potential
The Americas region—spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, and multiple fast-growing Latin American markets—represents a diverse ecosystem of industries. Bureau Veritas’s reorganized structure makes it easier to offer integrated, multi-service solutions across its portfolio.
For example, clients in infrastructure development may benefit from combined offerings in safety certification, environmental assessments, and sustainability audits—all coordinated through a unified regional strategy.
3. Scalable Product Deployment
With the introduction of this model, the company aims to streamline the launch and expansion of global product lines. Regional teams can now share capabilities, leverage common technologies, and ensure high standards of quality, consistency, and operational execution across the Americas.
A Proven Industrial Leader: Who Is Santiago Arias Duval?
Santiago Arias Duval brings extensive experience in industrial operations, business transformation, and performance-driven leadership. His diverse background across several engineering and technology sectors makes him an exceptional fit for a region as complex and varied as the Americas.
Leadership at Ingersoll Rand
Before joining Bureau Veritas, he served as:
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Senior Vice President
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General Manager, Precision Technologies division
At Ingersoll Rand, Arias Duval oversaw a multi-faceted business portfolio that included:
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Industrial Pumps
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Medical technology solutions
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Vacuum and liquid handling systems
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Life sciences product lines
His leadership resulted in robust organic growth, smarter resource deployment, and multiple successful acquisitions aimed at expanding the division’s market footprint. He is also recognized for driving improvements in EBITDA through operational excellence and disciplined cost management.
Experience at Danaher Corporation
Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at:
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Danaher Corporation – Packaging Business Unit
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X-Rite – a global color management and measurement company
These roles enhanced his expertise in global manufacturing, engineering innovation, and scalable product management.
Early Career Foundations
Arias Duval also worked with:
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Fluke (Danaher) – known for industrial testing tools
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General Motors – one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world
These early roles provided him with strong experience in engineering principles, technical operations, and quality-driven industrial processes.
Educational Excellence
His academic background includes:
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MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
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Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech
This blend of elite academic training and hands-on global leadership makes him uniquely qualified to guide Bureau Veritas through a period of accelerated regional expansion.
Vision for the Americas: Strengthening Performance and Deepening Partnerships
The arrival of Arias Duval marks a new chapter for Bureau Veritas in the Americas. He will report directly to CEO Hinda Gharbi and will serve as a member of the Group Executive Committee, shaping both regional strategy and global initiatives.
CEO’s Perspective
In welcoming Arias Duval, CEO Hinda Gharbi emphasized his:
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Proven track record in global operations
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Industrial sector expertise
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Ability to drive sustained business performance
She expressed confidence that his leadership will support the company’s LEAP I 28 strategy, an ambitious roadmap designed to deliver operational excellence and accelerate growth across key markets.
Arias Duval’s Vision
In accepting the appointment, Arias Duval shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity and highlighted several priorities:
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Unlock significant growth opportunities across the Americas
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Strengthen customer relationships through service excellence and technical leadership
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Champion sustainability and innovation, core pillars of Bureau Veritas’s global identity
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Support the LEAP I 28 roadmap, ensuring alignment between regional operations and the company’s long-term strategic goals
He emphasized that the Americas hold enormous potential for expanding the company’s influence in the TIC sector, especially in areas where safety, compliance, and sustainability are becoming increasingly critical.
Strategic Impact: What This Appointment Means for Bureau Veritas
The leadership transition is expected to drive substantial advancements in several areas:
1. Scaling Global Product Lines in the Americas
With a dedicated regional leader, Bureau Veritas can accelerate:
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Deployment of industry-specific service offerings
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Growth in high-potential markets such as renewable energy, automotive, pharmaceuticals, digital infrastructure, and food safety
The Americas will play a central role in testing new innovations and expanding global service frameworks.
2. Strengthened Cross-Selling Across Services
By unifying operations across North, Central, and South America, the company can deliver integrated solutions that combine:
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Certification
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Inspection
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Testing
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Consulting and risk advisory services
This holistic approach increases customer value and enhances revenue opportunities.
3. Enhanced Operational Alignment
Arias Duval’s background in operational excellence and performance optimization is expected to:
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Improve process efficiency
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Boost EBITDA performance
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Strengthen the company’s operational discipline across the region
His experience in managing large, complex organizations will be instrumental in streamlining workflows and improving execution.
4. Regional Growth as a Strategic Priority
The Americas region is now positioned as a strategic cornerstone of Bureau Veritas’s global ambitions. With strong market demand, growing regulatory requirements, and large-scale infrastructure investments underway, the region offers immense potential for expansion.
The Future Outlook: A Strong Foundation for Expansion
With this appointment, Bureau Veritas signals a strong commitment to strengthening its presence and capabilities across the Americas. The combination of a modernized organizational structure and highly experienced leadership creates a solid foundation for long-term growth.
Key Areas of Opportunity Going Forward
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Sustainability and ESG services as global compliance requirements increase
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Digital testing and cybersecurity assessments in an AI-driven economy
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Energy transition support, including hydrogen, renewables, and carbon management
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Infrastructure inspection and certification for major public and private projects
The Americas region is expected to play a significant role in shaping the company’s trajectory over the next decade.
Conclusion
Santiago Arias Duval’s appointment as Executive Vice-President for the Americas marks an important milestone for Bureau Veritas. His blend of industrial expertise, global operational leadership, and strategic vision makes him well-suited to drive the company’s growth in one of its most critical regions.
As Bureau Veritas continues to execute its regional realignment and strengthen its global strategy, this leadership transition reinforces its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer-focused excellence. The Americas region, under Arias Duval’s guidance, is set to become a major driver of value creation and strategic expansion in the years ahead.
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