Félix de Vicente
Félix de Vicente | |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism | |
| In office 7 May 2013 – 11 March 2014 | |
| President | Sebastián Pinera |
| Preceded by | Pablo Longueira |
| Succeeded by | Luis Felipe Céspedes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 November 1962 |
| Party | Independent Democratic Union (UDI) |
| Spouse | María Elisa Eguiguren |
| Children | Five |
| Parent(s) | Luis de Vicente Rosario Mingo |
| Alma mater | University of Chile Pontifical Catholic University of Chile |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Economist |
José Félix de Vicente Mingo (born 20 November 1962 in Santiago) is a Chilean economist and businessman, former Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism during President Sebastián Piñera's first government.[1][2]
He studied at Saint George's College. He graduated there in 1981 as the best student in his generation. Then, he graduated as a commercial engineer with a mention in Economics from Universidad de Chile.[3]
Family and education
He was born to Luis de Vicente Cabello and Rosario Mingo Echavarri.[4] He entered into a civil marriage on 30 September 1988 in Las Condes[5] with María Elisa Eguiguren Balmaceda (daughter of Raúl Francisco Antonio Eguiguren Ortúzar and Eliana Bernardita Balmaceda Jaramillo),[4] with whom he has five children.[3]
He completed his primary education at Saint George's College in Santiago, graduating in 1981 as the top student of his class ("best Georgian"). He later enrolled in business administration with a major in economics at the University of Chile.[3][6][7] At that institution he served as president of his school’s student association in 1986–87. He also undertook studies in civil engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.[3][7]
Professional career
After graduating, he joined the retail company Telemercados Europa as Administration and Finance Manager, a company that had been acquired by Alfredo Moreno, for whom he had served as a teaching assistant at university.[3][6][7] At the same time, he carried out various agricultural businesses with his father and older brother, which allowed him to accumulate capital.[3][6]
In 1991, together with his father-in-law, Antonio Eguiguren, he acquired the door manufacturing company Beagle Doors.[6] Three years later, the American company Jeld-Wen purchased a 25% stake in the firm.[6][7] In the early 2000s, the Chilean partners sold their entire participation for a figure that, according to analysts, exceeded US$12 million.[6][7]
Afterwards, together with businessman Ignacio Cueto, he became involved in the kitchen equipment supplier The Kitchen Center.[6][7] Simultaneously, he was a partner—along with his father-in-law and Rafael Valdivieso—of the Yarur family in the cemetery chain Parque del Sendero.[6][7]
Other companies in which he participated included De Vicente Plásticos, founded by his father in 1967, and Tecno Tip Top, a services and products firm for the mining industry.[6]
He entered the Chilean state apparatus in March 2010 as Director of ProChile, after being recruited by Moreno, now his superior as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[3][7] In May 2013 he assumed the post of Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, replacing the resigned Pablo Longueira, who had decided to launch a (ultimately unsuccessful) presidential bid.[3][7]
In December 2013, he formalized his membership in the Independent Democratic Union.[8]
References
- ^ "Félix de Vicente es nombrado como nuevo ministro de Economía". Mega. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Félix de Vicente, el nuevo ministro de Economía que anda en helicóptero y Austin Mini". El Mostrador. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Félix de Vicente reemplazará a Pablo Longueira como titular del Ministerio de Economía". emol. (in Spanish). 7 May 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ a b Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificación, Inscripción n°2009, Año 1962, Circunscripción: Recoleta
- ^ Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificación, Inscripción n°1816, Año 1988, Circunscripción: Las Condes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Qué Pasa, 2 March 2007, p.26
- ^ a b c d e f g h i La Tercera (Santiago), 8 May 2013, p.24
- ^ El Mercurio (Santiago), 21 December 2013, p.C8