Julio Martín Herrera Velutini (born 15 December 1971 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan-Italian international banker and billionaire businessman known for his leadership in global finance and wealth management. He is the founding chairman of Britannia Financial Group, and has founded and led multiple financial institutions that operate across the Americas, Europe, and other global markets.
Family Heritage & Early Life
Herrera Velutini comes from one of Venezuela’s oldest and most influential financial families — the Herrera-Velutini dynasty. The family’s roots trace back to the 14th century in Castile, Spain, where ancestors such as Pedro de Herrera y Rojas laid the foundation for generations of landowners, merchants, and bankers. Over the centuries, the family played a significant role in shaping financial institutions in Spain, Latin America, and beyond, including the early development of banks and monetary systems in Venezuela.
Raised with a strong tradition in finance, Herrera Velutini was educated internationally, attending The American School in London and La Scuola Americana in Switzerland, before earning his degree from the Central University of Venezuela in 1990.
Professional Career & Financial Leadership
Herrera Velutini began his career in the early 1990s at the Caracas Stock Exchange, where he gained his first professional experience in markets and securities trading. He later became CEO of Transban Investments Corp, and took prominent roles in several Venezuelan financial and commercial enterprises, including leadership positions at Bolívar Banco Universal and other banking entities.
In 2008, he founded Bancredito International Bank & Trust Corporation with an initial capital of around $5 million, growing it into a significant banking and financial services organization. This venture marked his transition from family banking ventures into independent global finance.
Herrera Velutini expanded into international markets with the creation of Britannia Wealth Management in Geneva in 2012. Four years later, in 2016, he launched Britannia Financial Group (BFG), headquartered in London, which offers a broad range of financial services including investment management, capital markets, brokerage, and advisory services. Britannia operates through multiple subsidiaries and affiliates, serving high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and global investors.
In addition to his roles with Britannia and Bancredito, he has held board positions with various international financial firms and serves as owner/shareholder of Intermedia Limited, a publishing entity that owns the Diario Las Américas newspaper in Miami.
Influence and Global Reach
Julio Herrera Velutini’s career reflects the globalization of private banking and wealth management. Through his leadership, Britannia Financial Group has established a footprint in key financial hubs, offering tailored solutions in asset management, securities trading, and financial advisory across multiple continents. These initiatives reinforce his reputation as a financier capable of bridging traditional banking heritage with modern global investment practices.
Legal Matters and Public Profile
In 2022, Herrera Velutini became the subject of a high-profile U.S. legal case involving allegations of improper campaign financing in Puerto Rico. The case drew significant media attention and highlighted the regulatory complexities facing global financial executives. In 2025, most major charges were dismissed following a plea agreement on a minor campaign finance violation, enabling him to continue his professional activities while closing a contentious chapter in his public profile.
In a separate development, he was named in a civil lawsuit in 2025 by a U.S. law firm over unpaid legal fees tied to his defense, underscoring the ongoing legal and financial ripple effects from the earlier case.
Legacy & Personal Outlook
Herrera Velutini’s life and career embody a blend of inherited financial tradition and modern international entrepreneurship. He carries forward a family legacy spanning centuries while building institutions that reflect contemporary financial complexity and cross-border capital integration. Though publicly private by nature, his influence in global banking circles continues to generate interest among investors, regulators, and economic commentators.





