Vision and mission
Vision: To be the most trusted global network for unlocking local potential to solve real-world challenges — proving that values add value.
Mission Statement: The Meridian Guild connects bold organizations with world-class talent to solve real-world challenges and unlock local potential in emerging and frontier markets.
We:
Mobilize a trusted network of local partners, implementing organizations, expert staff, and former U.S. government professionals.
Deliver actionable solutions in market entry, trade, investment, risk management, contractor support, and institutional capacity building
Incubate ethical, locally led ventures and advisory models that build long-term resilience
Champion transparency, shared value, and strategic integrity
Meridian Guild is more than a firm — it’s the new way to deliver trusted results where others can’t.
Who we are
From our strategy meeting
Asunción, Islamabad, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, Miami, San Salvador, & Tokyo
Mark A. Kerr - Chief Executive Officer
Mark Kerr is an international development strategist, attorney, and former senior U.S. diplomat with over 25 years of experience advancing the energy sector, market access, and regulatory/legal reforms around the world. Most recently, he served as USAID’s Country Representative in Paraguay, spearheading several global Agency initiatives and engaging at the highest levels of government, civil society, and the private sector.
A Yale-trained attorney and former U.S. Army JAG officer, Mark has managed legal and regulatory portfolios valued in the tens of billions of dollars across some of the world’s most complex regions, including Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Andes, and the Caribbean. His work has included everything from constitutional reform and commercial law to energy policy and treaty negotiations. He has also helped pioneer blended finance models that leverage private capital for public good.
Mark previously served as a Senior Development Advisor to the Commander of U.S. Southern Command and held senior legal positions with USAID throughout multiple global regions. He began his career at a global private sector law firm focusing on taking law scale energy projects from greenfield through construction. His approach blends legal precision, diplomatic strategy, and operational pragmatism.
Matt Cohen – Chief Operating Officer
Matthew Cohen is an international legal and development expert with over two decades of global experience advising governments, businesses, and institutions. A Senate confirmed, Senior Foreign Service Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mr. Cohen served as USAID’s Deputy General Counsel in Washington, where he directed a 130 person legal team and advised senior United States officials on foreign policy and legal compliance. As a Foreign Service professional, Mr. Cohen developed and managed billions of dollars in economic growth, infrastructure, health, and humanitarian portfolios in high-risk, complex environments, including South America, East Africa, and the Middle East.
Prior to his public service, Mr. Cohen practiced public law at Richards, Watson, Gershon in Los Angeles, where he advised public and private clients on a broad range of matters, including regulatory compliance, employment law, and environmental stewardship and remediation. He also served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia, implementing agroforestry and conservation programs.
Mr. Cohen holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Science in Forestry from Michigan Technological University, and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis. His cross-sector experience and regional expertise uniquely position him to guide clients through the legal, regulatory, and operational challenges of entering emerging and frontier markets.
Clinton White – President
Clinton D. White is a co-founder of the Meridian Guild. He is a distinguished, strategic, mission-driven C-suite executive with more than 25 years of experience scaling global programs, strengthening international partnerships, and driving sustainable impact. Proven track record of leading cross-cultural teams, securing multimillion-dollar funding, and advancing human rights, climate, and education initiatives across the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, and Asia while managing portfolios exceeding $1 billion. Recognized for visionary leadership, organizational transformation, financial stewardship, and commitment to inclusion.
Previously, Mr. White served as the Counselor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Prior to his role as USAID’s highest-ranking FSO, Mr. White was the USAID Regional Representative for Barbados, beginning in September 2019. In this role, he oversaw a portfolio encompassing the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business (Marketing) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of West Florida.
Fadi Abdellatif
Dr. Fadi Abdellatif is a founding partner of The Meridian Guild and an economic development leader with extensive experience in complex emerging markets across the Middle East.
As Deputy Office Director at USAID/West Bank & Gaza, Fadi managed a $500 million portfolio spanning private sector development, financial inclusion, digital transformation, agriculture, energy, water security, and infrastructure in one of the world's most challenging operating environments. Previously serving as Public Financial Management Advisor at USAID/Jordan, he architected $164 million in transformative programs and helped shape Jordan's Country Development Cooperation Strategy.
Fadi has advised government ministers at the highest levels and played key roles in major initiatives including implementing Secretary of State John Kerry's $5 billion Initiative for Palestinian Economy and Gaza's reconstruction efforts that secured over $5 billion in international pledges in 2014. His economic reforms helped improve the West Bank and Gaza's World Bank Doing Business ranking by 26 positions—the largest improvement in the MENA region in 2018.
As a former entrepreneur, Fadi founded and managed businesses spanning manufacturing, farming, hospitality services, marketing, and international trade, with operations across Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Turkey, bringing unique private sector insight to development challenges.
Fadi holds a PhD in Social Sciences and International Studies from the University of Exeter, an MBA from the University of Haifa, and a BSc in Food Engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey. He was awarded USAID's 2024 Professional Foreign Service National of the Year and was personally commended by President Barack Obama for his contributions to the U.S. Global Engagement Initiative in 2010.
His strategic vision and expertise in private sector entrepreneurship, international development, institutional capacity building, risk management in volatile markets, post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, and public-private partnership development makes him instrumental in delivering the SSP's mission of connecting world-class talent with bold organizations to navigate market entry and solve real-world challenges in emerging and frontier markets.
Adriana Casati
Adriana Casati is a founding partner of The Meridian Guild and a seasoned development leader and legal advisor with over two decades of experience designing and delivering high-impact programs across Latin America. Most recently, she served as Assistant Country Representative and Director of Program, Resources, and Performance at USAID/Paraguay, where she oversaw a $60+ million portfolio and led cross-functional teams in strategy, operations, and implementation.
Adriana’s career spans public service and private law, with 18 years at USAID leading civil society and private sector reforms, managing donor coordination, and negotiating bilateral agreements. A certified leadership and performance coach (ACT/Brown University), she has coached mid-level U.S. and local leaders across Latin America and Africa on decision-making, team development, and change management.
A Fulbright Scholar, Adriana holds an LL.M. in International Business and Trade Law from the University of Chicago, a Juris Doctor, and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Raised across multiple Latin American countries as a “Third Culture Kid,” she brings deep cultural fluency and regional insight to her work. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and professionally proficient in French and German.
She is the first Foreign Service National globally appointed to a Principal Officer position at USAID, and one of fewer than two dozen to reach the Agency’s highest FSN rank. Her contributions have been recognized with the USAID FSN of the Year Award for Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.S. Embassy Paraguay Locally Employed Staff of the Year Award, and multiple Meritorious Honor Awards
Juan Pablo Feregrino
Juan Pablo Feregrino is a founding partner of The Meridian Guild, bringing over a decade of international experience at the intersection of public policy, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. A former tenured U.S. diplomat and private sector product leader, he specializes in advising governments, development institutions, and technology companies on regulatory strategy, innovation ecosystems, and inclusive digital growth.
Most recently, Juan Pablo served as Deputy Office Director at USAID/ Vietnam, where he led multi-million-dollar economic and digital development portfolios. At USAID, he has also led and contributed to initiatives across a diverse range of sectors, including irregular migration, infrastructure, water, energy, counter-trafficking in persons, humanitarian aid, education, and governance, spanning Central America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
In the private sector, Juan Pablo was a core contributor to the launch of banQi, a Brazilian neobank developed by the fintech startup Airfox and later acquired by Via Varejo (BVMF:VVAR3). As Product Manager, he led cross-functional teams through the full lifecycle of payments features, go-to-market strategies, and operational expansion into 500+ retail locations, while navigating Brazil’s evolving regulatory environment. His private sector experience also includes Latin America and the Caribbean through business development roles at both Google and Salesforce.
Juan Pablo holds a Master of International Affairs from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.A. in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley. He is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, professionally proficient in Japanese, and conversational in several other languages.
Andrew Kerr
Dr. Andrew Kerr is an international education and leadership professional with more than 25 years of experience advancing institutional capacity, leadership development, and workforce readiness. He has led initiatives that strengthen education and workforce systems, expand access through technology, and prepare leaders to navigate organizational change across the United States and the the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands, Australia, Canada, China, Philippines, and throughout Oceania.
Most recently, Andrew has designed and delivered executive leadership programs for global corporations, public institutions, and nonprofit organizations, training leaders in areas like strategic influence, cross-cultural communication, and organizational transformation. A consistent theme of his work has been poverty alleviation, with emphasis on curriculum reform, school and community development, local capacity building, strategic leadership, and workforce innovation. Much of this has been with indigenous and marginalized communities and carried out with cultural fluency and respect for local traditions.
Andrew served in senior leadership roles in higher education and international NGOs, and also held key positions through U.S. Department of Education programs as Director of the Territories and Freely Associated States Education Grant (T&FASEG), Associate Director of the Pacific Regional Technology in Education Consortium (PRTEC), and contributor to the Pacific Regional Educational Laboratory (REL). In these roles, he helped facilitate educational capacity building across the Pacific Islands. His career reflects a consistent commitment to using education and leadership as tools for opportunity, access, and lasting impact.
Gerardo Tablas
With over 35 years of international leadership experience, Gerardo has built a robust career spanning multiple sectors and geographies. His professional journey has equipped him with deep expertise in strategic planning, cross-cultural collaboration, and transformative leadership.
He has held high-level advisory roles across the public and private sectors, leading strategic alliances and collaborative initiatives throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. His work has focused on fostering innovation, building cross-sector partnerships, and designing impactful solutions to address complex development and business challenges.
Gerardo’s career also includes pioneering work in IT and telecommunications, where he played a key role in establishing international call centers in emerging markets.
In addition, he has led international marketing and export promotion strategies, facilitated management workshops in major global cities, and served as Minister Counselor in Germany and Austria—enhancing his expertise in negotiation and high-level diplomacy.
Gerardo holds a Master’s degree in Conflict, Peace, and Security from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and a double Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from ISEP in Barcelona, Spain. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. In addition to his native Spanish, Gerardo is fluent in English, French, Italian, and German.
