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Speaker > Biography
Julio
A. De Quesada, WG’76
President
Executive Council of Global Companies
Mexico City
Julio A. de Quesada was appointed CEO of Grupo Financiero Citibank (Holding Company for all Citicorp's legal vehicles in Mexico) and Citibank, S. A. (its banking subsidiary in Mexico) in March 1994. He headed the company's Mexico businesses until November 2001 when Citigroup purchased Grupo Financiero Banamex, a transaction in which de Quesada played a key role, originating the idea of the purchase and setting up the initial meeting between Sandy Weill, the Citigroup Chairman and CEO, and Roberto Hern�ndez; Chairman, CEO and main shareholder of the Banamex Financial Group- the leading financial group in Mexico with assets of more than US$70 billion.
He formed part of the leadership team that integrated the operations of both banks, Citibank Mexico and Banamex in a fast and efficient manner. After the integration Citi asked him to stay on and head up the combined Corporate and Investment Banking businesses of Banamex and Citibank in Mexico. De Quesada grew this business to a leading position in Mexico in all business categories: Investment Banking and Capital Markets league tables, loans, deposits, cash management, trade finance, real estate finance, leasing and securities custodial services. Over this period, Banamex-Citi has been consistently ranked #1 in loan syndications, M&A, local fixed income, and equity. In August 2006, he was given additional responsibilities heading up Banamex's Treasury operations, the largest in the Mexican financial system, and was appointed CEO of the Banamex Financial Group Corporate and Investment Bank and Treasury businesses. These combined businesses represent US$1 billion in annual revenues.
De Quesada is a member of the Citigroup Management Committee and also member of the Banamex Financial Group Management Committee in Mexico. In addition, he is a Board member of the California Commerce Bank in Los Angeles, President of the Consejo Ejecutivo de Empresas Globales (business organization of the 36 largest multinational companies with operations in Mexico), ex-President and active member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, member of the Mexican Bankers’ Association and Coparmex (Mexican Chamber of Commerce), member of the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (Discussion Forum for foreign affairs), Board member of Seguros Banamex (Banamex insurance company), Board member of Atradius (one of the largest corporate credit risk insurance companies with offices in over 40 countries) and Treasurer of the Mexican Foreign Trade Organization. He is actively involved in numerous community activities including Board memberships in Monterrey Tech’s Graduate Executive Program in International Management, the Washington Center with specific focus in the NAFTA Internship Program, the Mexican Health Foundation, Wharton’s Latin American Advisory Board, and selected by Carlos Slim to the Board for the Restoration of the Historic Center of Mexico City. He was the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Wharton Global Forum held in Mexico City in July 2004 and received the 2004 Alumni Award for Distinguished Service.
Immediately prior to coming to Mexico, de Quesada was the CEO for Citibank in Pakistan. During his 31-year career at Citibank, he has also held numerous positions in New York, Central America, Greece, and Saudi Arabia.
De Quesada was born in Cuba and is a naturalized U.S. Citizen. He has two children, Julio Jr. and Felipe. He holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Engineering from Brown University.
