Carolina Soto declines presidency of the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure following board opposition and government friction.
Carolina Soto, the former executive director of the Central Bank of Colombia, has officially declined the presidency of the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure (CCI). The decision follows a period of internal friction within the guild, where her appointment was met with skepticism and opposition from the board of directors. The conflict arose because the current president, Abelardo de la Espriella, had suggested a triad of candidates, including Natalia Abello and Sandra Gómez, but the board, led by Juan Carlos Saavedra, chose Soto without prior notice. This lack of communication resulted in a lack of government alignment, which President De La Espriella viewed as a personal affront. Large construction firms, such as Sacyr and Corficolombiana, threatened to withdraw from the guild if Soto remained in the role. To maintain unity and the sector's independence, Soto stepped down before the board could formally revoke her appointment. The CCI will now begin a new selection process to choose a permanent replacement for MarÃa Consuelo Araujo.