Merary Soto-Saunders is the Managing Director, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DE&I”) at CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”). CVC is a leading private equity and investment advisory firm with a network of 25 offices throughout Europe, Asia, and the US. Since its founding, CVC has secured commitments in excess of US$165 billion from some of the world's leading institutional investors across its private equity and credit strategies.

In her current role, Merary is responsible for driving initiatives and policies that will make CVC and its portfolio companies more diverse and inclusive, and providing all employees the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Merary drives CVC’s DE&I strategy and oversees the implementation of initiatives to create a more inclusive culture including CVC’s mentoring programmes, global diversity and equality training, and enhanced parental leave benefits. Merary will also work closely with CVC’s portfolio companies to help develop their policies for attracting and hiring underrepresented talent in their individual markets.

Prior to this role Merary joined CVC in 2018 as Head of Human Resources for CVC Credit Partners, a leading investment management firm with ~$29B in assets under management. Through her DE&I strategy, CVC Credit partners tripled the number of women promoted, and increased the population of female investment professionals to 26% (17% is the industry average). In her career, Merary has led HR functions for finance and technology organisations operating in 27 countries across North America, South America, Africa & Europe, supporting growth, and expansion.

She is dedicated to designing, building and managing HR functions that are truly global. Merary leads HR strategies including: DE&I initiatives, performance management, organisational design, talent acquisition, compensation planning & crisis management. As a strategic coach and advisor to senior executives, she provides practical, human-focused insight for leaders to create work environments where a global workforce can thrive. She also advises boards and CEO’s of fast-growing companies on global compensation models, talent acquisition in developing markets, workforce planning and executive development.

She enjoys sharing insights from her global experience and has spoken on panels and podcasts including: HR Transform, Viva Technology, MQ+NY Times Diversity & Inclusion Panel, Hacking HR, All Voices. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Barnard College (Columbia University). She is a member of the Human Resources Network, SHRM, Tech Strategic HR Leaders, NYHRPS. She actively mentors young women about professional and career development. Merary is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. a private, not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.

In her personal time Merary is a committed mentor, officially through City Year UK, where she was nominated and awarded mentor of the year in 2020. Through the Bridge Builder Program, Merary has provided 1:1 mentoring as well as Employability Skills workshops to university students, lending her expertise as a human resources professional to under represented talent. She lives in London with her husband Jonathan and two children, and still calls NYC and the Dominican Republic home.