Born in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 1st, 1945, Gustavo Cisneros Rendiles served as the President of the Board of Directors of CISNEROS, a leading global business group with a significant presence in the fields of media, entertainment, telecommunications, digital advertising, and consumer products.
Adriana Cisneros, the current CEO of CISNEROS, will continue to lead and manage the organization as she has since 2013, ensuring business continuity and ongoing success.
As the group’s Board President since 1970, Gustavo Cisneros dedicated his life to both strategically developing CISNEROS and advancing Latin America in the global market. His efforts elevated Latin America’s profile worldwide, established new industries, increased access to information, and fostered technological growth throughout the region.
Married to Patricia Phelps de Cisneros for 52 years, Gustavo Cisneros had three children: Adriana, Carolina, and Guillermo.
Until his final days, Gustavo Cisneros remained a member of the Board of Directors of Barrick Gold Corporation, where he also served as an Advisor to RRE Ventures LLC. He was also a founding member of the United Nations Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the University Council of Rockefeller University, the Board of Overseers of Babson College, and the Advisory Committee of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University.
He was also a member of the International Advisory Board of Americas Society and the Board of Overseers of the International Center for Economic Growth. He was appointed a member of the International Advisory Board for Presidential Advisers for the Development and Economic Growth of Haiti, the Ibero-American Council for Productivity and Competitiveness, the Atlantic Institute of Governance, and the Board of Trustees of the Cardinal Cisneros Foundation.
The Advertising Educational Foundation recently honored Gustavo Cisneros with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry and of the role the Cisneros Foundation plays in improving education in Latin America. In 2014, the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) recognized him with the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award.
Gustavo Cisneros’ previous affiliations include some of the world’s most prestigious organizations in the fields of business, education, and international affairs. He served as Chairman of the Board of the All-American Bottling Corporation and as a member of the Board of Directors for many institutions, including the Panama Canal Authority; Panamerican Beverages, Inc.; Pueblo Internacional, LLC; the United Nations Association of the United States; Univision Communications; and the World Economic Forum’s Media and Entertainment Industries Advisory Board. Gustavo Cisneros was also a member of the International Advisory Council for Chase Manhattan Bank; the Executive Committee of DirecTV; the Board of Directors for Latin American Strategy of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst; the International Advisory Board of the Power Corporation of Canada; the Board of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute; the Latin American Board of Georgetown University; the Latin American Conservation Council for The Nature Conservancy; and the President’s Council of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
With support from his wife, Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, Gustavo Cisneros dedicated much of his life to enhancing the quality of education throughout Latin America, particularly in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, through Fundación Cisneros. Programs such as ACUDE, AME, television channel cl@se, and the alliance with “Tu clase, tu país” (“Your class, your country”) all helped further this goal.
Gustavo Cisneros was a leader who transcended business, bringing a strategic vision and commitment to innovation to his work. With a special ability to identify opportunities and make smart decisions, he was a fundamental part of his enterprises’ success. However, what set his leadership apart was his focus on human capital, always working to foster collaborative environments that supported holistic development. He had a great ability to inspire and motivate his teams, and he focused on building a sustainable legacy that went beyond business, looking to create wellbeing and develop those around him.
His passion for leadership and excellence was a part of his role as a father and husband, where he always showed a firm commitment to guiding his family and instilling values such as respect and integrity. He encouraged them to learn and grow, urging them to pursue their goals and face challenges with courage. His relationship with Patricia Phelps de Cisneros was centered on collaboration, mutual respect, and unconditional support, serving as the foundation for a healthy balance between his professional demands and his deep love for his family.
Gustavo Cisneros is currently the Chairman of CISNEROS, one of the largest privately held media, entertainment, telecommunications and consumer products organizations in the world. Additionally, Gustavo Cisneros is the owner of Tropicalia, a high-end, environmentally and socially responsible, tourism real-estate development located in the Dominican Republic.
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 1970, Gustavo Cisneros has dedicated himself to both the strategic development of CISNEROS and the overall advancement of the region. His leadership has helped to enhance Latin America’s profile on the global stage, cultivate new industries, increase access to information, and advance technological growth. He has done so in an effort to promote education, the principles of democracy and individual liberty.
Today, CISNEROS owns or holds interests in more than 30 companies that serve millions of customers in over 90 countries. Operations range from broadcast television, television production, and telecommunications to travel resorts. Through its diverse businesses and partnerships, the company delivers some of the most recognized brands and highest quality services to the 550 million Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking consumers in the Americas and Europe. Some of the group’s key holdings include Venevisión, the leading television network in Venezuela; Cisneros Media Distribution, a global Spanish-language entertainment company; and Cisneros Studios, a supplier of top-tier telenovelas for North American and world audiences.
In addition to his responsibilities related to CISNEROS, Gustavo Cisneros sits on the board of directors of Barrick Gold Corporation, where he is also a member of the International Advisory Board and Compensation Committee as well as chair of its Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. He is Senior Advisor for RRE Ventures LLC; charter member of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Task Force; member of the University Council at Rockefeller University, the Board of Overseers at Babson College, and of the Advisory Committee for the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University.
Gustavo Cisneros also sits on the Chairman’s International Advisory Council of The Americas Society and the Board of Overseers of the International Center for Economic Growth. In addition, Gustavo Cisneros has been appointed a member of Haiti’s Presidential Advisory Council on Economic Growth and Investment; the Ibero-American Council for Productivity and Competitiveness; the Council for the Atlantic Institute of Government; and the Board of Trustees of the Cardinal Cisneros Foundation. He recently received the Advertising Educational Foundation´s “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his contributions to the entertainment industry and the role of the Fundación Cisneros to improve education in Latin America. In December 2014, he received the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award from NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives).
His previous affiliations include some of the world’s most prestigious organizations in the fields of business, education, and international affairs. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the All-American Bottling Corporation and as a board member of the Panama Canal Authority; Panamerican Beverages, Inc.; Pueblo International, LLC; the United Nations Association of the United States; Univision Communications; and the World Economic Forum Board of Governors for the Media, Communications and Entertainment Industries. Gustavo Cisneros has also been a member of the Chase Manhattan Bank International Advisory Committee; the Executive Committee of DirecTV; the Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, LLC Latin America Strategy Board of Directors; the Power Corporation of Canada International Advisory Council; the Board of Directors for Queen Sofia Spanish Institute; the Board of Trustees and the Latin American Board at Georgetown University; the Latin America Conservation Council of The Nature Conservancy; and the Chairman’s Council of The Museum of Modern Art.
With his wife Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, Gustavo Cisneros established the Fundación Cisneros, a private nonprofit institution committed to improving education in Latin America while increasing international awareness of the region’s contributions in the global cultural arena. The Fundación Cisneros works together with the Corporate Social Responsibility programs of the companies of CISNEROS to fortify communities, promote freedom of speech, encourage economic development, and foster cross-cultural understanding.
Gustavo Cisneros received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Babson College, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He recently received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the University of Miami.
