Bio
Matias Pesce is a experienced business leader, investor, and hospitality executive with more than two decades of global leadership experience transforming organizations, driving sustainable growth, and creating long-term shareholder value. As CEO and Owner of Vida & Estilo Hospitality Group, he has established one of South Florida's most respected independent hospitality organizations, combining financial discipline, operational excellence, innovation, and a people-first leadership philosophy.
Since assuming leadership of the company in 2017, Matias has led the strategic transformation of Vida & Estilo Hospitality Group into a scalable, high-performing enterprise recognized among the Top 25 Independent Restaurant Groups in the Americas, the Top 100 Private Companies in South Florida, the Top 40 Largest Employers in South Florida, and the Top 50 Philanthropic Companies in Florida. Under his leadership, multiple restaurants within the group have earned national recognition among the Top 100 Restaurants, while the organization itself was named one of the Top 10 Best Companies of the Year and received the Excellence Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce in recognition of its growth, innovation, community impact, and contribution to the hospitality industry.
Widely recognized as one of the hospitality industry's leading executives, Matias is known for building organizations that successfully integrate strong corporate governance, financial performance, operational excellence, and exceptional guest experiences. His leadership has positioned Vida & Estilo as a benchmark for sustainable growth, innovation, and institutional excellence within the restaurant and hospitality sectors. Before entering hospitality, Matias built an exceptional international executive career in finance and corporate leadership. He began his professional journey at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) before joining Pride International, one of the world’s leading energy services companies, where he rapidly advanced through executive leadership roles including Head of Internal Audit for Latin America, Chief Financial Officer for Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia, and Corporate Chief Accounting Officer. He later joined Pan American Energy (BP Group), further strengthening his expertise in corporate finance, governance, large-scale operations, organizational transformation, and strategic growth.
A Certified Public Accountant, Matias also holds an MBA from Argentina and a Master’s degree in Finance from the United States. Beyond his executive responsibilities, he is committed to advancing the hospitality profession through education and industry leadership. He serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Advisory Board of the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University and is a Board Member of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, helping shape the future of hospitality education and industry development.
His leadership has earned numerous national and international recognitions, including being named one of the Top 20 Visionaries by CEO Outlook Magazine, one of the 10 Most Empowering Business Leaders of the Year by Entrepreneur Magazine, and one of South Florida Business Journal’s Power Leaders in Hospitality.
Today, Matias Pesce is recognized as one of the hospitality industry's most influential executive leaders, combining financial expertise, strategic vision, and operational excellence to build organizations that create long-term value for guests, employees, investors, and the communities they serve.