XS.com Hires Vantage's Mariana Higa to Lead Marketing in Latin America

XS.com has appointed Mariana Higa, formerly of rival broker Vantage, as regional marketing director for Latin America, the company announced on Tuesday. Based in Lima, she takes responsibility for the broker's campaigns, sponsorships and industry events across the region.

The move marks XS.com's second senior Latin America hire since July, when the firm named Maria Pesca Santos as regional director. Pesca Santos, who is based in Colombia and previously handled Latin America marketing at Tradeview Markets, said the company's approach to the region "must reflect the diversity of its markets." XS.com has attached its name to at least four trade shows in Peru, Colombia and Mexico this year, and those sponsorship commitments now sit within Higa's remit.

A year of regional appointments

Higa spent two years at Vantage, working remotely from Lima, initially as a growth team lead before becoming regional manager in March 2026. According to XS.com, she ran campaigns, sponsorships and events throughout Latin America in that role. Before Vantage she worked for seven months at HFM in account management and business development, and close to two years at Exness as a retail account manager from August 2022. XS.com put her total professional experience at more than ten years.

Her responsibilities also cover marketing assets and media relationships. She will coordinate with the sales and compliance teams to ensure campaigns remain within local regulatory rules, the company said. Higa described the role as a chance to "bring together regional market knowledge, creative marketing, and meaningful industry engagement across Latin America."

The appointment continues a busy hiring run at XS.com, which was founded in Australia in 2010 and held eight regulatory approvals after adding a UAE licence in October 2025, including entities in Australia, Cyprus and South Africa. In March the broker appointed former Exness manager Simon-Peter Massabni as head of retail sales, followed in June by Omar Alaa as marketing director for the Middle East and North Africa — the third Exness veteran hired in succession. In July, former Alpari executive Emily Aghajanyan took charge of growth in emerging markets.

Competitors have been staffing up in Latin America too. Tickmill promoted Brunno Huertas to regional manager for LATAM in October 2025, while ATFX named Ergin Erdemir head of LATAM in 2024 after he had joined its UK arm as head of marketing in 2018.