Franco Macri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franco Macri
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| Born | 15 April 1930 Rome, Italy
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| Died | 2 March 2019 (aged 88) Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Years active | 1950–2019 |
| Spouse(s) | Alicia Blanco Villegas (1958–1980) Cristina Cressier (1982–1986) |
| Children | 4, including Mauricio |
Franco Macri (born April 15, 1930 – died March 2, 2019) was a very important businessman from Italy and Argentina. He built many things and owned many companies. He was also the father of Mauricio Macri, who later became the President of Argentina.
Contents
Franco Macri's Life Story
His Childhood in Italy
Franco Macri was born in Rome, Italy. His mother's family owned a bus service. His father's family was from the Calabria region and ran a small postal service.
When Franco was eight years old, his parents divorced. He and his two younger siblings went to a military school in 1938. Five years later, they met their father again in Genoa.
Starting Fresh in Argentina
After World War II, Franco's father got involved in politics in Italy. But when his party didn't do well in elections, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1946.
Franco and his siblings joined their father in Argentina in 1949. Franco started working as a construction helper. He quickly got promoted and soon held an office job. He also finished his high school studies. In 1950, he started his first construction company called Urbana.
Urbana didn't succeed, so in 1953, Franco started a new company called Vimac with a partner. Vimac got a big job building a new plant for a cement company called Loma Negra in 1955.
In 1958, Franco married Alicia Blanco Villegas. They moved to Mar del Plata, and their first child, Mauricio, was born in 1959.
Building a Business Empire
Franco Macri started another company called Demaco, which built homes. However, due to changes in government policies, Vimac had to close down in 1962.
In 1964, Franco combined Demaco with what was left of Vimac to create a new company called Impresit-Sideco. This company got a big contract with the car maker Fiat to build and maintain their factory.
Impresit-Sideco became a leading company for large construction projects. They built important structures like the General Belgrano Bridge and some of Latin America's first nuclear power plants. They also worked on private projects like gas pipelines and office parks.
Franco also had an interest in movies. He started a company called MBC, which produced films for Argentine directors.
By 1976, Franco's companies had completed over 30 major projects. He bought the Argentine branches of big electronics companies like Philco and NEC. He also created Socma, a main company to manage all his different businesses.
In 1979, his company, Impresit-Sideco, partnered with another company to create Manliba. This new company was responsible for collecting trash in Buenos Aires.
Franco's first marriage ended in 1980. In 1982, he married Cristina Cressier and they had a daughter named Florencia.
In the early 1980s, Franco bought a major share in Sevel Argentina S.A. This company made cars for Fiat and Peugeot in Argentina. This purchase helped save the car factories and greatly increased Socma's earnings.
Challenges and New Ventures
Franco Macri faced some financial difficulties in the 1980s. He also had a heart attack in 1983, and his second marriage ended in 1986.
Despite these challenges, he found success in new areas. He partnered with companies like BellSouth and Motorola to create Movicom. This was one of the first big mobile phone service providers in Argentina.
In 1991, Franco's eldest son, Mauricio Macri, was kidnapped. He was freed after two weeks. This was a very difficult time for the family.
Franco's company, Sevel, saw its car sales grow a lot in the early 1990s. However, economic problems in the region later caused sales to drop. Sevel eventually stopped making cars in 2000.
In 1997, Socma bought the national postal service in Argentina.
Family and Later Years
Franco Macri was a big fan of the Boca Juniors football club. He helped his son, Mauricio, become the president of the club in 1995. This caused some discussion because Franco's construction company, Impresit, was chosen to renovate the club's stadium, the Bombonera.
In 2003, Franco's youngest daughter, Florencia, was also kidnapped. She was freed a week later.
The postal service contract with Socma was later ended. However, another one of Socma's companies, Pago Fácil, which helps people pay bills easily, became very successful.
After 2004, Socma also developed important real estate projects, like the Mulieris Towers in Buenos Aires.
In 2007, Franco Macri returned to the car industry. He got a license to produce Chery cars in Uruguay. His son, Mauricio, was elected Mayor of Buenos Aires in 2007. In 2008, Franco sold some of his biggest construction and real estate companies to his nephew.
In 2004, Franco Macri wrote a book called El futuro es posible (The Future is Possible). It shared his thoughts on over 50 years as a businessman in Argentina. He kept the suitcase he arrived with in Argentina in 1949 as a reminder of his journey.
His Passing
Franco Macri passed away on March 2, 2019, at his home in Buenos Aires. Many important people, including politicians from Argentina and other South American countries, sent their condolences to his son, Mauricio Macri.
He was buried at the Jardín de Paz cemetery in Pilar.
See also
In Spanish: Franco Macri para niños
