Ángel Gurría | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gurría in 2012 | |
| 5th Secretary-General of theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development | |
| In office 1 June 2006 – 31 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Don Johnston[1] |
| Succeeded by | Mathias Cormann |
| Secretary of Finance and Public Credit ofMexico | |
| In office 1 January 1998 – 30 November 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Guillermo Ortiz Martínez |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Gil Díaz |
| Secretary of Foreign Affairs ofMexico | |
| In office 1 December 1994 – 31 December 1997[2] | |
| Preceded by | Manuel Tello Macías |
| Succeeded by | Rosario Green |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1950-05-08)8 May 1950 (age 75) |
| Political party | Revolutionary Institutional Party |
| Residence(s) | Paris,France |
| Alma mater | National Autonomous University of Mexico |
| Profession | Economist |
José Ángel Gurría Treviño, also known asÁngel Gurría,[4] (born 8 May 1950) is aMexicaneconomist and diplomat. From 1 June 2006 to 31 May 2021, he was the secretary-general of theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).[5]
Born inTampico,Tamaulipas, Gurría graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics from theNational Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and undertook postgraduate studies at theUniversity of Leeds in theUnited Kingdom and atHarvard University in theUnited States.
Besides his nativeSpanish, Gurría speaksFrench,English,Portuguese,Italian andGerman.[6]
Gurría served in the financial area of Mexico’sFederal Electricity Commission (CFE), National Development Bank (Nafinsa), Rural Development Fund, and the Office of theMayor of Mexico City from 1968 to 1976. From 1976 to 1978, Gurría served as Mexico’s Permanent Representative to theInternational Coffee Organization (IFO), based in London.
In the 1980s, Gurría was Mexico's lead negotiator on restructuring its foreign debt.[7]
Gurría served as President and CEO of the Foreign Trade Bank (Bancomext) from 1992 until 1993.[citation needed]
Gurría served as theSecretary of Foreign Affairs (1994–1997) in theErnesto Zedillo administration.[8] In this capacity, he also negotiated theNorth American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and requested financial aid during the1994 crisis. Also, he opposed theHelms-Burton Act.
AsSecretary of Finance (1998–2000),[9] Gurría oversaw the initial years of Mexico's membership in the OECD and chaired the organization's ministerial council in 1999.[10] Gurría is widely seen as the architect of the Mexican economic stabilization, partially by cutting government spending six times during theZedillo administration. The effect of his work has been felt during the administration ofPresidentVicente Fox who nominated him to lead the OECD in July 2005.[citation needed].
After leaving government office, Gurría taught International Relations and Financial Economics at theMonterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM). From 2003 to 2005 he chaired theInter-American Development Bank's External Advisory Group.[11]
In 2005, Gurría emerged at the head of a crowded field of candidates, including former PolishPrime MinisterMarek Belka, to succeedDonald Johnston of Canada as the OECD secretary general. In the process, he underwent about 150 interviews in all member countries over the several months to win the backing of governments and OECD officials.[12] During his initial two terms, countries such asChile,Estonia, andIsrael joined the organization.[13] On 26 May 2015, the 34 member countries of the OECD decided to renew Gurría's mandate for the period 2016–2021.[14]
Since 2010, Gurría has also been serving as a Commissioner for theBroadband Commission for Digital Development which leverages broadband technologies as a key enabler for social and economic development.[15] He also belonged to the United Nations Secretary General’s Global Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, chaired by formerPrime MinisterRyutaro Hashimoto of Japan.
Gurría is a recipient of manyhonorary degrees, from the Universidad de Valle de México, Rey Juan Carlos University, European Universities of Leeds, Haifa, and Bratislava.[21]
Gurría has also received several awards and decorations from more than 30 countries, including the titles ofGrand officier de la Légion d'honneur andchevalier dans l'ordre du Mérite agricole, awarded by the French Government. He has also received a Medal from the French Senate and theRidder Grootkruis in de Orde van Orange-Naussau awarded by the Netherlands. Most recently, he was distinguished by the President of Korea with theGwandwha Medal for Diplomatic Service, and also received recognition to his longstanding contribution to the development of public administration in Mexico, theMedalla al Mérito Administrativo InternacionalGustavo Martínez Cabañas, awarded by theInstituto Nacional de Administración Pública (INAP).
In 2007, Gurría was the first recipient of the Globalist of the Year Award of the Canadian International Council to honour his effort as a global citizen to promote trans-nationalism, inclusiveness and a global consciousness.[22] His awards include the Ben Gurion Leadership Award, the Award Isidro Fabela by the Mexican Association of International Studies, TheNueva Economía Award, theOrden Bernardo O'Higgins en el Grado de Gran Cruz, and theMedalla Rectorial from the University of Chile.[citation needed]
In addition, Gurría has received the following acknowledgments:
Gurría is married toophthalmologist Lulu Quintana de Gurría, who runs an eye hospital for the poor in Mexico City.[25] They have three children.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Secretary of Foreign Affairs 1994–1997 | Succeeded by |
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| 21st century | ||
