| Published on November 30, 2004 |
Alfonso E. Martinez, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, was interviewed today by CNBC to comment on the appointment of Carlos M. Gutierrez. President George W. Bush nominated Carlos M. Gutierrez, chairman and CEO of Kellogg Company, to serve as the new secretary of commerce.
"We are extremely pleased that President Bush has selected one of the best and brightest Hispanics to be part of his new economic team," said Alfonso Martinez. "Mr. Gutierrez is a solid choice because he is a results-oriented corporate leader who has a great reputation in Wall Street. He has made Kellogg a corporate role model that we encourage other FORTUNE 1,000 companies to follow. Kellogg has two Hispanics on its board of directors and a strong commitment to the Hispanic community. Under his leadership, Gutierrez has turned around the company and made Kellogg the number one cereal maker in the United States, increased its sales by 43 percent with a corresponding 131 percent increase in earnings per share to its shareholders. Furthermore, Mr. Gutierrez is a role model for Latino youth to see every day in the news, and to know that there are people who look just as we do in positions of influence."
When asked what qualities will Mr. Gutierrez bring from corporate America to government, Martinez responded by saying, " Financial Acumen. Mr. Gutierrez runs a $9 billion company, and by all accounts he does so very well. Furthermore, he oversees the lives of many thousands of employees who are motivated to deliver on the company mission daily. Finally, he manages a large and complex machine of stakeholders requiring world-class relationship management skills."
Mr. Martinez also commented on recent accomplishments by other Hispanic leaders as indications that Hispanics are being recognized at the highest levels of our nation and that the Hispanic community is producing highly qualified leaders such as Anna Escobedo Cabral, former president and CEO of HACR, confirmed as the U.S. Treasurer, Alberto Gonzales nominated as Attorney General, Ken Salazar winning the senate seat in Colorado, Mel Martinez exiting the cabinet and winning the senate seat in Florida, and Hector Barreto completing his first term as SBA administrator.
For more information, please contact:
Omar Velarde-Wong
Director of Communications
Phone: 202.835.9672
Fax: 202.457.0455
ovelarde@hacr.org
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