- The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Andrónico Luksic Craig, expressed his “Deep regret for the passing of a man that devoted a great part of his life, all his talent and wisdom to build what is currently the Luksic Group, to create companies and to contribute to the country’s progress.”
- Quiñenco’s Chief Executive Officer, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, particularly acknowledged “Gonzalo Menéndez’s commitment and contribution to the Company’s development in the different positions of responsibility he held within the Group during his successful career.”
Santiago, June 29, 2019. The Board of Directors of Quiñenco S.A., its executive officers and all team members inform with deep regret the passing of Mr. Gonzalo Menéndez Duque, a member of the Board since 1996, who worked with the Luksic Group companies for over 47 years.
Born in Coronel, Gonzalo Menéndez earned a degree in business administration and public accounting from Universidad de Chile. He began working with Andrónico Luksic Abaroa at the age of 23, as Chief Executive Officer of the car dealerships Soinorte, Dicoloa and Servimotor in Antofagasta. Since then, he accompanied Mr. Luksic in different business projects that formed the foundation for the Luksic Group’s current portfolio.
Among other roles, he previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Banco O’Higgins, Ferrocarril de Antofagasta (FCAB) and Lucchetti, and as Director of various companies. At the time of his passing, at the age of 70, he sat on the boards of Quiñenco, Banco de Chile, CSAV, ENEX and Antofagasta plc. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Fundación Luksic and Fundación Educacional Luksic, where he contributed to the development of better opportunities for children and young people from at-risk sectors in Chile. He was also a professor of finance and Chilean economics, as well as business policy at Universidad de Chile, and a professor at the Chilean Army’s Military Polytechnic Academy.
Upon learning the unfortunate news, the Chairman of Quiñenco’s Board of Directors, Andrónico Luksic Craig, expressed his “deep regret for the passing of a man that devoted all his talent and wisdom to build what is currently the Luksic Group, to create companies and to contribute to the country’s progress. He was both a rigorous businessman and an exceptional person, a priceless friend who always accompanied and advised us, first our father and then us, with a unique talent and analytical capability, which were key in forging our path,” he stated.
Quiñenco’s Chief Executive Officer, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, particularly acknowledged “Gonzalo Menéndez’s commitment and contribution to the Company’s development in the different positions of responsibility he held within the Group during his successful career. He was very proud, justifiably so, to be part of the Group’s history, of contributing his dedication, devotion and effort to what we are today. We deeply regret his departure,” added Mr. Pérez Mackenna.
The funeral of Mr. Gonzalo Menéndez Duque will take place on Sunday, June 30, at Parque del Recuerdo Cemetery, following a mass at San Francisco de Sales church, Vitacura, at 2:30 pm.