Maria is a senior corporate communications strategist with more than 25 years of experience both international and domestically.  She understands the fundamental drivers of business and the evolving, global market place in which brand value is a key component to generating revenue. She joined Legg Mason’s corporate communications group in 2006.  Over her tenure,  she has built strong relationships with leading financial journalists.  Besides working with the media, she has shown proficiency in integrating all areas of corporate communications to enhance, maintain and build Legg Mason’s brand reputation. Throughout her career, Maria has been instrumental in building new practice areas for several firms including institutionalizing the investor relations department at Grupo Elektra and building the Latin American investor relations practice for the Torrenzano Group. Maria has always worked with global, multinational clients starting with her first public relations position at GCI Group.  She has also worked for many leading multinational corporations when she lived in Mexico City during the early NAFTA years.