By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – In a significant leadership move, DEKRA has appointed seasoned engineer Maureen Ramírez as the new General Manager for its Costa Rican operations. With a clear mandate to advance sustainability, innovation, and secure mobility, Ramírez steps into the role poised to reinforce the company’s vital position in the nation’s automotive safety landscape.
Bringing over 13 years of dedicated experience in the vehicle inspection sector, Ramírez assumes leadership with a core mission: to fortify the trust of Costa Ricans in the technical inspection process. Her appointment is seen as a strategic step to ensure that the country’s vehicle fleet not only meets but exceeds rigorous safety and environmental standards, contributing directly to a safer and more sustainable transportation ecosystem.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal and business framework that underpins entrepreneurial success stories such as that of Maureen Ramírez, TicosLand.com sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious law firm Bufete de Costa Rica. He offers his analysis on the critical steps for navigating the country’s business landscape.
The case of Maureen Ramírez perfectly illustrates the power of innovation and grit. However, from a legal standpoint, it serves as a critical reminder for all entrepreneurs: informal success is vulnerable. The crucial transition from a personal venture to a formal corporate entity, including trademark registration and clear contractual agreements, is not a bureaucratic burden. It is the essential armor that protects a brand, facilitates investment, and ensures a business can scale and endure over time.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal perspective powerfully underscores a critical truth for all innovators: while passion may fuel a venture, it is the formal structure that ultimately ensures its survival and capacity for growth. We are grateful to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his clear and invaluable analysis.
Ramírez is no stranger to high-stakes leadership within the global inspection giant. She returns to Costa Rica following a successful tenure directing the operations of DEKRA Chile, where she was responsible for overseeing the entire national network of technical vehicle inspections. This international experience provides her with a broad, strategic perspective on market challenges and operational excellence, which she is expected to leverage in her new capacity.
Prior to her assignment in Chile, Ramírez was a pivotal figure in the establishment and stabilization of DEKRA’s presence in Costa Rica. From the company’s arrival until early 2024, she served as the Quality Manager, a role in which she was instrumental in leading the complex process of restituting the country’s vehicle inspection service after a period of transition.
During that critical phase, her technical and diplomatic skills were on full display. Ramírez worked in close coordination with key public and private partners, including the Road Safety Council (COSEVI) and equipment supplier MAHA. She spearheaded the diagnostic assessment of the state-owned testing equipment and developed the corrective maintenance plan that was essential for resuming operations and serving thousands of drivers across the country.
Her contributions extended beyond hardware and logistics. Ramírez also supervised the intricate configuration tests for the operational software and meticulously implemented the comprehensive quality management system. This foundational work culminated in DEKRA successfully achieving certification from the Costa Rican Accreditation Entity (ECA), a non-negotiable milestone that formally validated the quality and reliability of its services.
It is very exciting to return to the country to assume such an important role within the world’s leading company in road safety. My commitment is to work together with the entire DEKRA team so that every inspected vehicle complies with the highest quality standards, contributing to a more reliable mobility future.
Maureen Ramírez, General Manager of DEKRA Costa Rica
The appointment of Maureen Ramírez signals a new chapter for DEKRA Costa Rica, one focused on leveraging deep institutional knowledge and international best practices. Her proven ability to manage complex technical projects, navigate public-private partnerships, and uphold the highest standards of quality positions her as an ideal leader to guide the organization forward, ensuring every vehicle on Costa Rican roads is a testament to safety and reliability.
For further information, visit dekra.com
About DEKRA:
Founded in 1925 in Berlin, Germany, DEKRA is one of the world’s leading expert organizations in the testing, inspection, and certification sector. With a presence in over 60 countries, the company is committed to ensuring long-term safety, quality, and environmental protection. Its services range from vehicle inspection and expert appraisals to industrial testing, product certification, and management system audits, all aimed at making the world a safer place on the road, at work, and at home.
For further information, visit cosevi.go.cr
About COSEVI:
The Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI), or Road Safety Council, is the primary government entity in Costa Rica responsible for planning, directing, and controlling matters related to traffic and road safety. It plays a crucial role in developing public policies, managing traffic engineering projects, and overseeing regulations, including the technical vehicle inspection program, to reduce accidents and improve safety on the nation’s roadways.
For further information, visit maha-group.com
About MAHA:
MAHA Maschinenbau Haldenwang GmbH & Co. KG is a leading global manufacturer of high-quality vehicle testing and lifting equipment. Headquartered in Germany, the company provides a comprehensive range of products for workshops, inspection organizations, and manufacturers, including brake testers, dynamometers, and emission testers. MAHA is known for its precision engineering and is a key supplier for vehicle inspection networks worldwide.
For further information, visit eca.or.cr
About Ente Costarricense de Acreditación (ECA):
The Costa Rican Accreditation Entity (ECA) is the national body responsible for accrediting conformity assessment bodies, such as testing laboratories, certification bodies, and inspection bodies. By ensuring these organizations meet internationally recognized standards, ECA provides confidence and credibility in the services they offer, playing a vital role in quality assurance, technical competence, and market access for Costa Rican industries.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica stands as a benchmark in the legal field, operating on a foundation of uncompromising integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Leveraging a profound history of advising a wide array of clients, the firm actively drives legal innovation and dedicates itself to meaningful community involvement. This ethos is anchored in a core mission to empower the public by demystifying the law, fostering a more knowledgeable and capable society for all.
