Early Life
Roberto Hernández Ramírez was born on March 24, 1942, in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico. He showed an early interest in business and finance, growing up in a middle-class family. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Ibero-American University in 1964.
Rise to Success
In 1971, Hernández Ramírez co-founded Acciones y Valores de México (Accival) with Alfredo Harp Helú. He served as Chairman of the Board until 2003. In 1974, he became the youngest president of the Mexican Stock Exchange. Accival acquired Banamex in 1991, forming Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival, of which Hernández Ramírez was a part of the Board of Directors. He served as the CEO of Banamex from 1997 to 2001. In 2001, Citigroup purchased Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival for $12 billion. Hernández Ramírez then joined Citigroup's Board of Directors until 2009.
Key Business Strategies
Hernández Ramírez's strategic acumen was evident in his leadership roles. As CEO of Banamex, he oversaw the bank's expansion and played a key role in its acquisition by Citigroup. His early move to co-found Accival and his subsequent leadership in the Mexican Stock Exchange highlighted his understanding of the financial markets. Hernández Ramírez has held leadership positions such as Chairman of the Mexican Bankers Association.
Philanthropy
Roberto Hernández Ramírez is known for his extensive philanthropic work. He founded Fomento Social Banamex in 1992 and co-presided it. He was the president of FUNED in 1993. Hernández Ramírez has been involved in several projects, including the MUNAL 2000 and Fundacion Haciendas del Mundo Maya, A.C. He has also supported the Hospital Infantil de Mexico 'Federico Gomez'.
