International Business Leadership
Bill Bambara
President & Founder
Drawing on over 35 years of international executive experience, Bill founded International Business Links (IBL) in 2011, specializing in Business Development and Consulting for expansions and investment opportunities in Latin America and Asia. Prior to IBL he was the Corporate Vice President of International Operations for LIMRA, a global life insurance and financial services trade association, where he managed the development and application of LIMRA’s core competencies to international markets, and oversaw the coordination and delivery of membership services for Latin America and Asia. Before joining LIMRA, Bill was the Manager of International Development at Carvel Corporation where he was responsible for international establishment, growth, and customer service in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, Israel, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Bill has an M.A. in Slavic and East European studies and an M.B.A. in International Business from the University of Connecticut. He received his bachelor’s degree in Languages and Linguistics from Georgetown University, and is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese and French.
Bolivar Arosemena
Managing Partner – Latin America / Caribbean
Bolivar has over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, with a specialized concentration in the financial services and insurance industry. Most recently he was Aetna International’s Sales Director for LATAM and the Caribbean, developing international distribution partnerships and working to improve the productivity and retention of brokers and agents throughout the region. Prior to joining Aetna International, Bolivar was a Corporate Vice President at LL Global, where he managed client relationships and oversaw sales for consulting, research and training in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Bolivar started his career working in sales and marketing for several different insurance and risk management companies based in Panama, including Alico Panama, Qstion Managers and Internacional de Seguros S.A. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Trade and Finance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and speaks English, Spanish and conversational Portuguese.
Robert Lai
Managing Partner – China
Robert Lai is a seasoned financial services executive with more than 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial planning industries. He began his career as a sales representative with China Life and Ping An Insurance and advanced through a series of leadership positions, including Sales Department Manager, Training Coordinator, Sales Area Manager, Branch Manager, Training Department Manager, and Assistant Regional General Manager. In addition to his role with IBL he also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the International Registered Insurance Planner (China) Association.
Throughout his career, Robert has been recognized for his contributions to the industry, earning the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) distinction and serving on the Standards Committee of the American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM) as well as the China Expert Committee for the Registered Financial Planner (RFP) designation. He also spent eight years as Chairman of the China Region for LIMRA and LOMA, where he helped establish partnerships with more than 30 leading Chinese life insurance companies and expanded access to global research, education, and professional development resources. Robert holds a master’s degree from Nankai University and has served as a visiting scholar at the University of Chicago and as a lecturer at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.