Remembering Sandra Villena

Authors: Steve Moreton, Global Head of Product Management at CJC.

Source: WatersTechnology - In Absentia: Remembering Sandra Villena

Today marks two years since the tragic loss of our dear colleague, Sandra Villena. Though time has passed, the pain of her absence remains, and the pursuit of justice for Sandra continues. As we reflect on her life and legacy, we take this moment to reaffirm our commitment to finding justice while continuing to champion the incredible legacy she left behind.

Sandra’s cousin, Rosa Loza, shared with us a recent update on the ongoing investigation:

“It has been two years since the heartbreaking loss of our cherished Sandra Villena. Since our last update, Sandra's family has continued their partnership with the Ecuadorian firm Santiago Escobar Asociados, under the leadership of Santiago Escobar. In collaboration with the Ecuadorian judicial system and Interpol, a red alert notice has been issued for the arrest of Vicente Michael Palomino Rosales, the primary and sole suspect in the case concerning Sandra. The legal team has also been in discussions with the Ecuadorian Attorney General’s Office and the Gender Office to request that the Interior Minister of Ecuador include his name on the list of the ten most wanted criminals in the country. Family and friends have been diligently gathering information and working alongside authorities in both Peru and Ecuador. Recently, the legal team has secured additional assistance from officials in both countries to enhance the search for the individual responsible”.

Spanish Translation: Han pasado dos años desde la desgarradora pérdida de nuestra querida Sandra Villena. Desde nuestra última actualización, la familia de Sandra ha continuado su colaboración con el bufete ecuatoriano Santiago Escobar Asociados, bajo la dirección de Santiago Escobar. En colaboración con el sistema judicial ecuatoriano e Interpol, se ha emitido una alerta roja para la captura de Vicente Michael Palomino Rosales, el principal y único sospechoso en el caso de Sandra. El equipo legal también ha estado en conversaciones con la Fiscalía General de Ecuador y la Oficina de Género para solicitar que el Ministro del Interior de Ecuador incluya su nombre en la lista de los diez criminales más buscados del país. Familiares y amigos han estado reuniendo información diligentemente y trabajando junto a las autoridades tanto de Perú como de Ecuador. Recientemente, el equipo legal ha obtenido asistencia adicional de funcionarios de ambos países para intensificar la búsqueda del responsable.

CJC kindly thanks Rosa and her family for the update.

In remembrance, we want to highlight last year's moving tribute to Sandra in an article published by WatersTechnology. This piece not only celebrates the incredible person that Sandra was, but also highlights the realities of domestic violence and the effects it has on victims, their friends, and families. You can read the full piece here: In Absentia - Remembering Sandra Villena and Finding Her Killer.

Both Sandra’s family and CJC were deeply moved by the WatersTechnology article and their 2023 creation of the “Sandra Villena Unsung Heroine Award” at their Annual Women in Technology and Data Awards. This award was named after Sandra in recognition of the important work she did. In 2024, the award was won by Microsoft’s Poornima Muthukumar.

To further honour Sandra's legacy, and with her family’s blessing, CJC has renamed the first part of the CJC Academy syllabus, What is Market Data: The Sandra Villena Pathway, in tribute to her. Sandra joined CJC without prior experience in market data and learned it from the ground up. By dedicating this part of the course to her, we celebrate how quickly she embraced and mastered this understanding, building upon the knowledge she gained, and reflecting the same tenacity and spirit she showed in everything she did.

In 2025, CJC looks to bring their academy open day to New York and work with Rosa, alongside the foundations she supports, to help find new talent in the capital markets and market data. We invite you to join us in remembering Sandra by supporting causes that meant so much to her and all of us. Below are links to organisations working in areas that reflect her passions and values:

Sandra will always be remembered for her kindness, dedication, and unbreakable spirit. As we continue seeking justice, we hold her memory close to our hearts and remain inspired by the lasting difference she made in so many lives.

Sandra’s family and CJC thank you for standing with us in honouring Sandra Villena.

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For more information, contact:

The Communications Team

Tel: +44 (0) 203 328 7600 | Email: marketing@cjcit.com

About Crown Jewel Consultants (CJC)

CJC is the leading market data technology consultancy and service provider for global financial markets. CJC provides multi-award-winning consultancy, operations support (OaaS), cloud solutions, and professional services for mission-critical market data systems. CJC is ISO 27001 certified, enabling CJC’s partners the freedom to focus on their core business.