Early Life and Education
Jaime Gilinski Bacal was born on December 14, 1957, in Cali, Colombia. He is the son of Isaac Gilinski Sragowicz, a banker, and Perla Bacal. Gilinski's family has roots in Lithuania. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1978 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1980.
Banking and Investment Career
Gilinski's career is marked by significant achievements in banking and investments. In the 1990s, he acquired the Colombian assets of BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) and renamed it Banco Andino, later selling it for $70 million. He then purchased Banco de Colombia in what was the largest privatization in Colombia's history. Gilinski later sold control of Banco de Colombia for $800 million. He merged Banco Sudameris and Banco Tequendama to create GNB Sudameris. Gilinski became the largest shareholder of Banco Sabadell. He acquired the Latin American operations of HSBC.
Real Estate and Other Ventures
Beyond banking, Gilinski is involved in real estate, developing the Panama Pacifico project. He owns businesses like Yupi and Rimax Plastics. In 2022, Gilinski purchased large stakes in Grupo Nutresa and Grupo Sura.
Philanthropy
Jaime Gilinski is committed to philanthropy, supporting education and healthcare initiatives in Colombia and abroad. He has contributed to Fundacion Santa Fe, The Chabad House at Harvard University, and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard. He and his wife established the Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Fellowship at Harvard Business School.
