Enrique Chavez

Class of 2001

Born in Uruapan, Mexico, in1940, Enrique earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico. In 1964, he married Guadalupe Fernandez, and the couple has three children – Enrique, Jorge and Fernando.

Enrique began his career as quality control manager at General Foods in 1965. A year later, he joined Grupo Bimbo, Mexico’s largest baking company and the third largest in the world, as a trainee. During the next 20 years, he rose through the management ranks, until 1987, when he was named president of Grupo Bimbo Barcel/Ricolino division, the position he held at the time of his induction.

Enrique credits his success to his overall dedication to the business, his education, his view of international business and his courage to meet aggressive challenges while being willing to take risks.

Some of Enrique’s most memorable career moments include starting factories in Austria and the Czech Republic, and establishing Ricolino as an independent brand.

He credits Lorenzo Servitje, founder and former president of Grupo Bimbo, and the company’s Board as the biggest influences on his career. He says the arrival of international products to the Mexican market and the immediate feedback he receives from the sales force and consumers also play important roles in his career.

Enrique is a member of the Catholic Family Association and Mexican Social Enterprises. In his spare time, he enjoys jogging, traveling and going to the theater.