Global AML Program Manager
Millicom (Tigo)
“When you lead with purpose, work hard, and stay humbled and consistent, you can help open doors that didn’t exist before, and you can do it while still honouring the people and values that ground you.”
María Teresa Salazar de García, Lawyer and Notary Public, duly authorised by the Supreme Court of Justice of El Salvador. She holds a Master’s Degree in Financial and Capital Markets Law from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana of Colombia and a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal and Social Sciences from Dr. José Matías Delgado University. With more than 21 years of professional experience specialising in Corporate Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), Financial Law, Legal, AntiMoney Laundering (AML), and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF). Her career has focused on advising private companies, Fintechs, and financial and non-financial institutions across Latin America, driving sustainable strategic solutions and
leading organisational transformations with the highest ethical and technical standards.
She holds several prestigious international certifications: Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) by ACAMS, Anti-Money Laundering Certified Associate (AMLCA) by FIBA, and the International Certification in Personal Data Protection (Data Protection Officer), by the Latin American Institute of Compliance (ILC). Most recently, was certified as an International Master Speaker by the International Coaching & Speaker Federation.
Currently, serves as Global AML Program Manager at Millicom International Cellular (Tigo), leading the global AML/CTF program across all jurisdictions where the company operates. Previously, held the position of Regional AML Program Manager for Latin America, leading teams and projects in nine countries across the TELCO and Mobile Financial Services (MFS) sectors. Her experience includes the design and implementation of corporate policies, regulatory risk management, internal audits, training programs, and participation in high-level executive committees. She also served as Compliance Manager at Tigo Money El Salvador, where she led the process to obtain the country’s first license as an Electronic Money Service Provider. Her professional background includes key positions at AFP Confía, where she acted as Compliance
Officer, liaison with regulators, and Chair of the Ethics Committee, as well as corporate law experience at prestigious law firms such as Arias.
María Teresa has been widely recognised at an international level. In 2025, she was honoured in New York as “Inspiring Lawyer of the Year” in the category of Compliance, Risk, and AML; also named among “The 45 Most Influential Legal Professionals Under 45” in the region. In 2024, she was awarded “Lawyer of the Year” in El Salvador and recognised among the Top 100 Compliance Officers in Latin America by Top Compliance México.
She is an active member of several professional organisations, including AMCHAM El Salvador, the Latin American Institute of Compliance (ILC), FIBA Women’s Leadership Committee, WEC Global, and the Top Compliance & Risk Management Community. In addition, she has been appointed Regional Director of the AML Commission at ILC and Country Chair for El Salvador for G100, a global network of 100 Women Leaders, within the Integrity, Compliance, and Globalisation wing.
Throughout her professional career, María Teresa has participated as a speaker, moderator, professor, and lecturer in more than 25 national and international events, including El Salvador, Mexico, Brazil, Perú, Paraguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia, among others, covering topics such as compliance, corporate ethics, LegalTech, artificial intelligence (AI), and women’s leadership. She has also served as a mentor in professional development programs with FIBA, WEC, and Voces Vitales.
María Teresa combines her deep technical expertise with a strategic and ethical vision of compliance, positioning herself as one of the most influential leaders in legal risk prevention and compliance in Latin America.
Her most recent appointment was as a Member of the International Advisory Council of TEDLaw, a TED initiative.
”I’ve always believed that leadership is not about the power you hold, but about the positive change you enable in people’s lives.”