Cristian Munoz Becker
Global Product and Technology Executive with 17+ years scaling products, platforms, and AI-led transformation.

EU citizen based in South America

Available across US, LATAM & EMEA

CM

About

Global Product & Technology Executive combining Fortune 500 governance with startup agility to drive product strategy and business innovation from concept to production scale. VP of Product specializing in scaling ventures, launching new business units, and driving international expansion. With over 16 years of leadership at Mercado Libre, Santander, LATAM, and high-growth ventures, I transform ecosystems into AI-first platforms across Fintech, E-commerce, and SaaS in tech, product, data and design.

I operate at the intersection of three dimensions:

  • Digital transformation and AI strategy, especially in regulated markets.
  • New business creation and strategic initiatives with P&L ownership.
  • Hybrid execution that combines startup speed with corporate governance.

Career at a Glance

17+ years

Global product leadership

Fortune 500 governance and startup execution

US$2.3B ARR

Mercado Livre scale

Cards portfolio growth in digital banking

US$450M/year

AI-driven efficiency

GenAI operations at enterprise scale

17k engineers

Platform enablement

Unified design system across 30k microservices

Executive Experience

Click each card to expand details and key outcomes.

Designing and scaling AI-powered products into high-impact, revenue-driven business units across global markets.

Strategic advisor for C-level technology leaders across LATAM, North America, and Europe. Led due diligence programs for enterprise platform adoption, evaluating technical feasibility and ROI frameworks for multinational implementations.

  • Technical fellowship focused on AI adoption strategies and responsible innovation frameworks in LATAM.
  • Published thought leadership reaching 50K+ technology executives monthly.
  • Regional expertise in AI, product strategy, and digital transformation for emerging markets.

Created and led a cross-functional strategic products unit across 6 countries for Mercado Libre's ecosystem (218M+ users, US$110B valuation, 105k+ employees).

  • Revenue Growth: Scaled new card suite to US$2.3B ARR (+172% YoY), while raising active-use 35%, boosting account yield 46% YoY, and expanding AUM 86%.
  • Operational Efficiency: Implemented GenAI platform supporting 9k agents, cutting ~US$450M/year in OPEX.
  • Platform Enablement: Owned Unified Design System strategy adopted by 17k developers across 30k microservices.
  • Product Innovation: Introduced Pots savings solutions (2x MAUs), re-engineered insurance portfolio (2.6M policies), and launched loyalty products for retention.
  • Brand and UX: Rebranded Mercado Pago as a digital bank, tripling awareness YoY (Kantar Brandz Award 2022-2024), and closed a 34pp NPS gap (+12pp in first quarter).
  • Market Expansion: Launched compliant cryptocurrency products across 5 markets, reaching 2M users and ~US$890M volume.

Built and scaled a GenZ traveltech ecosystem from early-stage concept to strategic acquisition in 2 years.

  • Scaled the platform to 9x GMV growth through data-driven go-to-market focused on GenZ behaviors.
  • Led Product, Engineering, and Design organizations, translating market trends into a full-stack mobile platform.
  • Integrated fintech, automation, and AI-driven capabilities to create a frictionless user experience.

Led product innovation and digital experience strategy during pre-IPO growth phase (US$590M IPO in 2020).

  • Directed go-to-market strategy and digital transformation initiatives pivotal to the public listing.
  • Launched IoT-enabled concept stores and immersive retail experiences across 250 physical locations.
  • Implemented first AI/ML customer journey optimization initiatives (+115% CX improvement).
  • Built a gamified lifestyle app connecting the community to 200+ events and promotions.

Promoted to strategic role to lead Product and UX, managing a cross-functional team of 30 specialists across 17 agile squads.

  • Enhanced digital channels to handle 508M quarterly transactions, capturing 13.2% SMB share and growing unit share from 11% to 15%.
  • Redesigned transaction flows and receipts, eliminating 88.9M paper rolls and generating ~R$124M annual savings.
  • Reduced omnichannel CAC by 32% through unified identity and design system.
  • Scaled Design Ops across 17 squads, reducing design cycle time by 20% and improving NPS by 30%.
  • Established 3 digital labs to foster a data-driven product discovery culture across 3,000+ employees.
  • Developed a neural network solution for equipment allocation, reducing resolution time from 3 days to ~15 minutes.
  • Created patented accessibility payment solution enabling autonomous transactions for visually impaired users.

Led a US$268M revenue optimization initiative using data science for real-time competitive pricing (McKinsey partnership).

  • Executed CRM strategy for 55M customers, increasing engagement by 20% and active customer growth by 18.3% YoY.

Empowered data analytics capabilities for LATAM Airlines strategic business transformation during LAN + TAM integration.

Led product lifecycle initiatives at France HQ and LATAM operations.

  • Redesigned Pure Life packaging reducing plastic by 10%, saving ~US$24.5M annually.
  • Developed digital tools and dashboards supporting Nespresso LATAM expansion.

Orchestrated go-to-market for 5 vehicle launches in Brazil, contributing to ~40% sales growth in targeted segments.

Optimized raw materials and inventory strategies across LATAM, increasing product demand by ~13%.

Education

Core Capabilities

AI Strategy
Product Portfolio Strategy
P&L Management
Digital Transformation
Platform Scaling
Design System Governance
Growth & Go-to-Market
Executive Leadership
Innovation Roadmapping
Data-Driven Product Decisions

WHAT I AM EXPLORING NOW

After years in software, I am now also exploring hardware

My core track remains software and product leadership at scale. Now I am exploring cyber-physical systems where software, hardware, and AI operate together.

Follow me on my networks for updates. LinkedIn

Strategic Impact Cases

Recent cases that moved revenue, efficiency, and scale

Focused on measurable business impact.

Fervometro: Real-Time Carnival Intelligence

Fervometro: Real-Time Carnival Intelligence

Hardware + software stack for live crowd intelligence at city scale. Real-time heatmaps, vehicle telemetry, and weather data during Carnaval.

Sensors
Cameras
IoT
Real-Time Mapping
Automation
AI Agents
Forbes Tech Council Fellow

Forbes Tech Council Fellow

Practical frameworks for C-level decision-making on AI adoption and platform scaling. 50K+ technology executives reached monthly.

Thought Leadership
AI Strategy
Executive Advisory
Design System Governance for 17k Engineers

Design System Governance for 17k Engineers

Unified design language adopted by 17k developers across 30k microservices. Consistency and velocity at ecosystem scale.

DesignOps
Design System
Governance
Platform Strategy
AI Logistics: POS Replacement in ~15 Minutes

AI Logistics: POS Replacement in ~15 Minutes

Neural dispatch model reduced POS terminal replacement from days to ~15 minutes.

Neural Networks
Logistics
Real-Time Dispatch
Fintech
Dynamic Pricing Engine

Dynamic Pricing Engine

Real-time pricing intelligence for seat/route economics. ~US$268M annual revenue uplift.

Data Science
Pricing Intelligence
Revenue Optimization
Digital Receipt Program (ESG)

Digital Receipt Program (ESG)

Eliminated ~88M paper rolls and saved ~R$124M/year through behavioral design.

ESG
Behavioral Design
Cost Transformation
Operations
Fintech Rebranding & Unified Design Language

Fintech Rebranding & Unified Design Language

Unified brand identity across UX, product, and marketing. Reduced CAC 32% and accelerated product delivery.

Brand Strategy
Design System
Fintech
Go-to-Market
Patented Accessibility Payment Protocol

Patented Accessibility Payment Protocol

Patented acoustic protocol (FSK + AES) for autonomous payment confirmation by visually impaired users. No hardware replacement needed.

Accessibility
Patent
Fintech Security
Inclusive Design
SMB Payments Platform Scaling

SMB Payments Platform Scaling

13.2% market share and R$44.1B quarterly revenue through integrated SMB app and e-commerce journeys.

Payments
SMB
Growth
Product Strategy
GenAI Operations Platform at Enterprise Scale

GenAI Operations Platform at Enterprise Scale

GenAI platform for 9,000 agents. ~US$450M/year in operational efficiency.

GenAI
Operations
Automation
Enterprise AI
Recognition, Advisory & Thought Leadership

Ecosystem impact beyond the operating role

Awards, advisory positions, judging, publications, and community contribution presented in a compact high-signal format.

📘
Author

Future Proof Products

2025 - United States

Author of Future Proof Products, a strategy book about foresight, product resilience, and long-term relevance.

🔬
Patent

Ultrasonic Accessibility Payment System

Issued - Brazil

Inventor of a payment system using high-frequency acoustic signals to improve accessibility for visually impaired individuals.

🏆
Award

Fast Company World Changing Ideas Nominee

2025 - United States

Nominated for democratizing accessibility for 20 million Brazilians through patented payment technology.

🏆
Award

Santander Innovation Product

2019 - Brazil

Built and launched the B2C fintech unit from zero, recognized for high-impact product execution.

🏆
Award

Santander Purpose Driven Team

2018 - Brazil

Awarded for the Argo project: neural network logistics that cut POS resolution from 7 days to 15 minutes.

🏆
Award

Santander Customer Centric Leadership

2017 - Brazil

Implemented NPS program and improved customer experience by 257%.

🏆
Award

National Product Development Award

2013 - Brazil

National award for engineering and hardware product development excellence.

Recommendations(36)

LinkedIn Recommendation
Cristian is a powerhouse. He translates complex tech trends like AI into tangible business value effortlessly. What stands out most is his leadership style — he creates alignment across vast, cross-functional teams and moves with speed. He is an innovator at heart with the discipline of a seasoned executive.

Denis Chamas MSc

AI-First Transformation Leader | Marketing Director | CDO

Worked with Cristian at different companies

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COMING IN 2026

Future Proof Products - Book

A strategy book on foresight, product resilience, and long-term relevance. Launching in 2026.

Reserve your copy book@crisbites.com

Workshops and Speaking

Strategic sessions for leaders and transformation teams

Executive workshops, keynote talks, and practical product and AI sessions tailored to business impact.

Executive Workshop

Executive Workshop

In-company workshops on AI strategy, operating models, and adoption roadmaps for leadership teams.

C-level audience
90-180 min
EN / PT / ES
Keynote Talks

Keynote Talks

Conference presentations on future-proof product systems, resilience, and portfolio-level decisions.

Conferences and events
Actionable frameworks
Cross-industry
Leadership Advisory Session

Leadership Advisory Session

Strategic consulting sessions on scaling product organizations from discovery to delivery.

Teams 20 to 3000+
Product + Design + Data
Custom engagement
Contact

Let's Connect

Open to corporate product leadership roles, strategic programs, advisory projects, workshops, and speaking opportunities.

I can be most useful in scenarios like:

LATAM businesses scaling into regional and global markets.
Global organizations localizing products for LATAM entry.
Companies modernizing platforms with AI and operating model change.