Early Life
Jaime Gilinski Bacal was born on December 14, 1957, in Cali, Colombia, to Isaac Gilinski Sragowicz, a banker, and Perla Bacal Zweiban. His father's entrepreneurial background, with ventures in snack foods (Yupi) and plastics (Rimax), instilled in him a foundation for business. He earned a Bachelor of Science 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 mergers and acquisitions division at Morgan Stanley. Returning to Colombia, he acquired the Colombian assets of BCCI after its collapse, renaming it Banco Andino and turning it into a successful bank, which he later sold. His significant achievements include acquiring and privatizing Banco de Colombia and merging it with Banco Sudameris to form GNB Sudameris. He has expanded into real estate, developing the Panama Pacifico project. In 2022, Gilinski purchased stakes in Grupo Nutresa and Grupo Sura. In October 2023, he became the controlling shareholder of Metro Bank with around a 53% stake.
Key Business Strategies
Gilinski's success is rooted in strategic acquisitions and restructuring of financial institutions. His strategy focuses on identifying undervalued assets and turning them into profitable ventures. He has demonstrated an ability to navigate complex financial transactions, making him a key player in Latin America's banking sector. His expansion into real estate further diversified his portfolio.
Philanthropy
Gilinski is known for his philanthropic efforts. In the 1990s, he contributed $8 million to the Fundación Santa Fe, supporting Santa Fe Hospital in Bogotá. He also chairs Capital Projects for The Chabad House at Harvard University and supports the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University. He and his wife established the Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Fellowship at Harvard Business School.