Early Life
Jaime Gilinski Bacal was born on December 14, 1957, in Cali, Colombia. He is the son of Isaac Gilinski Sragowicz, a banker, and Perla Gilinski. His family has Jewish Lithuanian roots. He earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1978 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1980.
Rise to Success
Gilinski's career took off in the 1990s when he acquired the Colombian assets of BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) for a nominal sum after its global collapse, renaming it Banco Andino. Within four years, he turned it into one of the most efficient banks in the Colombian banking system. He later purchased Banco de Colombia in what was then the largest privatization in Colombia's history. Through strategic acquisitions and mergers, including Banco Sudameris and Banco Tequendama, Gilinski built a significant banking empire, eventually forming GNB Sudameris. In 2013, he became the largest shareholder of Banco Sabadell.
Key Business Strategies
Gilinski's strategy includes acquiring distressed assets and transforming them into profitable ventures. His ability to identify opportunities and execute strategic mergers and acquisitions has been a cornerstone of his success. In real estate, Gilinski partnered with London & Regional Properties to develop Panama Pacifico, a major business and residential project in Panama.
Philanthropy
Gilinski is actively involved in philanthropy. He supports the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University through the Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Endowment. He has also established the Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Fellowship at Harvard Business School. Additionally, in 1990s, he contributed US$8 million to the Fundacion Santa Fe.