Lorenzo Zambrano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lorenzo Zambrano
|
|
|---|---|
Zambrano in 2003.
|
|
| Born |
Lorenzo Hormisdas Zambrano Treviño
27 March 1944 |
| Died | 12 May 2014 (aged 70) |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Alma mater | Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) and Stanford University. |
| Employer | Cemex |
| Title | Chairman of the board and CEO. |
| Board member of | Cemex, IBM, ITESM |
| Parent(s) | Lorenzo H. Zambrano Hellion and Alejandrina Treviño Madero |
Lorenzo Hormisdas Zambrano Treviño (born March 27, 1944 – died May 12, 2014) was a famous Mexican businessman. He was also a kind person who supported many good causes. He took over a company called Cemex, which made cement. His grandfather started this company. Lorenzo made Cemex one of the biggest cement makers in the world.
He also helped pay for many cultural projects in Latin America. From 1997 to 2012, he led the board of the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM). This is one of the largest private universities in the region. He also partly owned Axtel, an important Mexican phone and internet company.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lorenzo Zambrano was born on March 27, 1944. His hometown was Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. He came from a wealthy family. His parents were Lorenzo Hormisdas Zambrano Hellion and Alejandrina Treviño Madero.
Family History and Business Roots
His father's family had built a small fortune. They were entrepreneurs, meaning they started businesses. This happened during the time Monterrey became an industrial city. Lorenzo's great-grandfather, Gregorio Zambrano Guajardo, helped start the first textile factory in the area in 1854. His grandfather, Lorenzo Hormisdas Zambrano Gutiérrez, founded Cementos Portland Monterrey in 1920. This company made Portland cement. It grew by helping rebuild Monterrey after the 1910 Revolution.
Challenges and Responsibilities
Lorenzo went to private schools in Monterrey. But his childhood was not always easy. His grandfather died in a car accident when he was 50. This happened soon after his company merged with another. While Lorenzo was studying high school in the United States, his father also passed away. Suddenly, as a teenager, Lorenzo had to take care of his mother and four younger brothers and sisters.
To face this, Lorenzo returned to Monterrey. He enrolled at the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM). He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1966. Soon after, he moved to Palo Alto, California. He got a master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1968. He was the only Mexican student there at the time. After finishing his studies, he went back home and joined the family business.
Leading Cemex: A Global Company
In 1968, Lorenzo Zambrano joined Cemex. For 17 years, he held many important jobs. He managed cement plants in Torreón and Monterrey. He also became the director of operations.
Becoming CEO and Global Growth
On May 30, 1985, he was named the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Since 1995, Zambrano also led the company's board as chairman. As CEO, he created a plan that helped Cemex grow. It went from a local company in northern Mexico to a top global building materials company. Cemex grew through more than 16 mergers and acquisitions. This means they bought or joined with other companies. This helped Cemex become big in local, regional, and global markets.
On September 15, 1999, Zambrano led a special event. Cemex stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). This was a big step for the company.
He was also a member of the board of directors for IBM. He served on advisory boards for other big companies too. These included Citigroup International and Allianz Companies. He also served on the boards of Alfa, Banamex, Femsa, Empresas ICA, Televisa, and Vitro.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Lorenzo Zambrano was a philanthropist. This means he used his wealth to help others. From 1997 to 2012, he was the chairman of the board for the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM). This is one of the biggest private universities in Latin America. He also served on the board of the Monterrey Museum of Modern Art (MARCO).
On November 28, 2011, he announced on Twitter that he would not continue as chairman of ITESM. He said it was for personal reasons.
Lorenzo Zambrano received many awards for his business and charity work. In 2005, he got the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship. He also received the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service from the Americas Society. The Stanford Graduate School of Business gave him the Excellence in Leadership Award.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Lorenzo Zambrano was single. He liked to take vacations in Cancun and New York City. He also spent his free time at a small country house near Monterrey. There, he watched movies and read many books. He enjoyed long lunches and dinners with his family and friends.
Ferrari Collector
He was a well-known collector of Ferrari cars. At one point, he owned some very important cars in Ferrari's history. These included:
- A 1952 250 S Berlinetta Vignale. This was the first car in Ferrari's famous 250 series to have the Colombo V12 engine. It won first place at the 1952 Mille Miglia race.
- A 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’. This car won first place at the 1956 Tour de France Automobile race. This is how the model got its nickname.
- A 1959 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione. This was the first of 176 such cars made. It was first shown at the Paris Motor Show in October 1959.
- A 1962 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale. This car had unique bodywork by Bertone. It was built to be the personal car of Nuccio Bertone.
Death and Lasting Impact
On May 12, 2014, Lorenzo Zambrano was on a business trip in Madrid, Spain. He had a meeting scheduled for 7 pm. When he did not show up, his staff found him. He was found dead in his hotel suite at Hotel Villa Magna.
His sudden death at age 70 surprised many people. Cemex released a statement. It told clients and investors that business would continue as usual. The company's board of directors would choose a new leader soon.
In Mexico, the president of Mexico, government officials, business leaders, and cultural promoters shared their sadness. They sent their condolences through the media and social networks.
See also
In Spanish: Lorenzo Zambrano para niños
- Cemex
- Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM)
