As Minister of Foreign Affairs from December 1994 to January 1998, he made dialogue and consensus-building one of the hallmarks of his approach to global issues. As Mexico’s Minister of Finance and Public Credit from January 1998 to December 2000, he steered Mexico’s economy through a change of Administration without a repetition of the currency crises that had dogged previous such changes.
During this time, Mr. Gurría developed a close relationship with the OECD, overseeing the initial years of Mexico’s membership and chairing the OECD’s Ministerial Council Meeting in 1999. Previously, he was part of the team that negotiated Mexico’s admission to the OECD.
Mr. Gurría holds a B.A. degree in Economics from UNAM (Mexico), and a M.A. degree in Economics from Leeds University (United Kingdom).
He served as Mexico’s Permanent Representative to the International Coffee Organisation, based in London, from 1976 to 1978, and held various roles in the financial area of Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission, National Development Bank (Nafinsa), Rural Development Fund, and the Office of the Mayor of Mexico City. Following a 14-year tenure at Mexico’s Finance Ministry from 1978 to 1992, he became President and CEO of Mexico’s export-import bank, Bancomext in 1992. In 1993, Mr. Gurría was appointed President and CEO of Mexico’s national development bank, Nacional Financiera, specialised in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.
He is married to Dr. Lulú Quintana and they have three adult children.
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