Background on Marcos Galperin and Mercado Libre
Marcos Galperin, an Argentine entrepreneur and the founder and face of Mercado Libre for over two decades, is embarking on a new chapter in his career. He will shift his focus to artificial intelligence (AI) projects once he officially steps down as CEO at the beginning of 2026.
The Transition
As the transition progresses, Galperin expressed his continued enthusiasm for Mercado Libre’s future, particularly in AI exploration. “Working intellectually on a company like ours with AI is extremely rewarding,” he stated in the company’s podcast.
Although stepping down from his position, Galperin assured that he will remain involved in key decisions such as capital allocation and will support the leadership process while dedicating more time to AI and innovation. Ariel Szarfsztejn, with extensive experience within the company and currently overseeing the e-commerce area, will formally assume the CEO role at the start of 2026.
New CEO’s Priorities
In his initial statements, Szarfsztejn emphasized that his role would be to maintain the company’s established course. “This is a story of continuity, not drastic changes,” he affirmed. Among his priorities are expanding e-commerce penetration, which currently accounts for only 15% of retail sales in Latin America, strengthening the advertising business, and further developing access to digital financial services.
AI’s Role in Mercado Libre
Galperin and Szarfsztejn agree that artificial intelligence will be a crucial tool for scaling the company’s strategic goals. They explained that AI technology is already being integrated into various aspects of Mercado Libre’s operations, including credit risk models, logistics route optimization, and product recommendation systems.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Marcos Galperin? An Argentine entrepreneur and the founder of Mercado Libre, one of Latin America’s most influential figures in the startup ecosystem.
- What is Mercado Libre? A leading e-commerce platform in Latin America, offering online marketplace and payment services.
- When will Galperin step down as CEO? At the beginning of 2026.
- Who will succeed Galperin as CEO? Ariel Szarfsztejn, currently responsible for Mercado Libre’s e-commerce area.
- What are Szarfsztejn’s priorities as CEO? Expand e-commerce, strengthen advertising, and develop digital financial services.
- How will AI impact Mercado Libre? AI will be integrated into various aspects of the company’s operations, such as credit risk models, logistics route optimization, and product recommendation systems.
