Ernesto Martens (Jan 28, 1933 – Jan 13, 2024)

Mexican Secretary of Energy. Ernesto Martens Rebolledo was a Mexican chemical engineer renowned for his contributions to the private sector and government service. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in 1956, Martens pursued postgraduate studies at the Technological Institute of Karlsruhe in Germany and Harvard Business School. Martens’ professional journey included a noteworthy eighteen-year tenure at Union Carbide Headquarters, where he ascended to the position of CEO. In 1985, he made history as the first non-family CEO of Monterrey glass company Vitro, guiding its expansion into diverse industries through strategic joint ventures. His leadership, however, attracted both acclaim and controversy, particularly during the hostile takeover of Anchor Glass Container Corporation in 1989. In 1994, Martens assumed the role of president of the board of Cintra, where he successfully restructured major Mexican airlines, Aeromexico and Mexicana. His wealth of experience and strategic insight led to his appointment as Secretary of Energy by President Vicente Fox in 2000. In this crucial role, Martens addressed challenges within the oil and gas sector, contributing to the development and reform of Mexico’s energy policies. Post-government service, Martens continued to make significant contributions to academia, holding faculty positions at his alma mater and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.