BOGOTÁ, Colombia – On April 27th, the National Coffee Growers Congress’s extraordinary meeting unanimously elected Germán Alberto Bahamón Jaramillo, 48 years old, as the new CEO of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC). The election process was open and transparent, with the active participation of the federated representatives of all departmental committees of coffee growers, who reflected in their vote the producers’ will.
“Once again, the commitment to Colombian coffee growers and, of course, to the coffee institutions is reflected in this instance that brings us together to deliberate and make the best decision for the benefit of the sector,” said Albeiro Duque, President of the 91st National Coffee Growers Congress’s extraordinary meeting, who also swore in the new CEO.
Upon accepting his appointment, Bahamón thanked his electors and promised to work for all the coffee growers in the country, to whom he declared: “The closeness of the CEO with each region will feed the FNC’s unity. My contact will be permanent with every one of you.”
“There could not be a better culmination to this FNC process than the clear and convincing expression of unity,” he added.
The new FNC CEO specially addressed the Colombian Government. “I will start to work as soon as possible with the President of Colombia, and his ministers, so that we, the Colombian coffee growers, contribute to meeting the goals of the National Development Plan.”
Bahamón also acknowledged the other two short-listed candidates, Sandra Morelli, and Santiago Pardo.
The outgoing Minister of Finance, José Antonio Ocampo, recognized the significance of democracy in the election of the new FNC CEO.
“The local, national, and global relevance of this organization implies an enormous commitment from the CEO with the sector, but especially with the foundation on which the FNC has been successfully built: the 542,000 coffee grower families, who, with their permanent work, have positioned Colombian coffee and its institutions,” Ocampo said.
Who is the new FNC CEO
An agro-industrial production engineer from Universidad de la Sabana, with post-graduate studies in strategic marketing at the Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administración (CESA), and Executive Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, in Chicago, Bahamón Jaramillo has also been an academic and professor.
A professional and leader in the public and private sectors, he has over 20 years of experience at the national and international senior management level in some of the most recognized companies worldwide, such as Apple, Sony Ericsson, América Móvil or KimberlyClark, also working with disadvantaged communities and on land formalization.
Bahamón has favored sustainable, profitable, and responsible growth of the organizations and the use of technology and communications for international trade, especially for the growth of markets and the development of new ones.
He has a long history of creating, leading, and motivating teams committed to excellence, with communication skills, interpersonal relationships, and a strategic vision supported by a sound analytical approach.
