Rafael Villalona

Rafael Villalona is the CEO of UNACEM North America, overseeing the company’s growth and transformation in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With nearly two decades of international leadership experience in the building materials sector, he has a proven track record of delivering turnarounds, sustainable growth, and operational excellence across multiple regions.

Previously, as CEO of CEMEX UAE, Rafael spearheaded the transformation of three businesses in cement, concrete, and chemicals. Under his leadership, revenues grew 3x and the organization achieved global records in productivity while also having the lowest CO₂ emissions per cubic meter/strength in the ready-mix division globally, saving over 400 million kg of CO₂.

Earlier in his career, Rafael held senior roles in Egypt, Haiti, and Jamaica, where he consistently drove profitability and market expansion under challenging conditions. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Master’s in Engineering from the University of Maryland.