Lifetime Achievement Award:
Bernardo Quintana Isaac

The construction of works that are monumental or discreet, complex or simple, but always useful to society would be inconceivable without the commitment, work, skills, talents, passion and dedication of a leader and his or her team.

In recognition of such efforts, CEMEX would like to honor the work of an illustrious businessman, Bernardo Quintana, whose leadership and dedication in the area of Civil Engineering have resulted in important infrastructure works in Mexico and other countries worldwide. His life is an example of devotion to his profession, his people and continuous progress in every aspect of his activities.

An outstanding feature of Mr. Quintana’s personality is his humility and appreciation of other people’s work. His values, vision and capacity to guide multiple individual objectives toward common goals form the foundation of his brilliant career and creation of great works.

His constant interest in the betterment of his country is evident in his humanistic vision, through which he seeks to imbue each project in which his company participates with an intrinsic sense of social responsibility that helps to improve the lives of his fellow countrymen. Mr. Quintana firmly believes that beyond the apparent materiality of an infrastructure project, the difference between being just another work and really excelling lies in the project’s capacity to improve people’s living conditions and enhance the nation’s competitiveness. Without doubt, this is the vision that has guided his track record of achievement.

His beginnings: a solid foundation for success

Bernardo Quintana was born in Mexico City in 1941. At that time, his father was still an engineering student at the UNAM, an institution of higher education with which both father and son, each in his own time, would forge close ties. A love of engineering and a closeness to the UNAM would be just two of the fundamental values that would be reflected in the personality and destiny of a man who is today one of the most important leaders of Mexico’s construction industry.

“My father transmitted to all of those around him his enthusiasm for everything related to engineering, which in fact is extremely interesting. Engineering provides the opportunity to build something where there is nothing, through the efforts of groups of people dedicated to a single objective.”

In 1947, when Bernardo was six years old, his father and a small group of other professionals founded the civil engineering firm Ingenieros Civiles Asociados, ICA. The first contract that the company was awarded was the building of the Presidente Alemán Urban Center, better known as the Miguel Alemán multi-family development. This socially-focused project detonated the outstanding story of ICA’s success and allowed the builders to apply their technical knowledge, enthusiasm and organization to a functional project for the benefit of the community.

In this way, from his earliest years, Bernardo Quintana developed an intrinsic social conscience and solidarity that would later grow in parallel with his academic education. As a teenager, he was already convinced that knowledge could only be complete if it was accompanied by practical experience, through working side by side with the people building the projects. To this end, the young man visited building works and related campsites during his vacations. Thus, he discovered first hand how the families of engineers, technical assistants and workers live and how these people’s work is appreciated within the community.

He began studying Civil Engineering at the UNAM, graduating in 1961, and thereby taking the first step in the profession he had always wanted to follow, the passion of his life after his family. Later, in order to better prepare himself to meet the challenges of his future career, he decided to study a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I started a family in California with the birth of my first daughter. Academically, those two years enriched my knowledge — and my life — and marked my professional career forever, especially when I later returned to ICA and was responsible for starting up several new projects.”

During the sixties, the company team realized that they could capitalize on the maturity and experience of ICA and its subsidiaries by undertaking projects abroad. As a result, ICA sought opportunities outside the country, without neglecting its presence in Mexico, and the young Bernardo Quintana was able to enhance his knowledge and experience in the global marketplace.

Convinced of the importance of broadening his horizons and operating with an all-enhancing vision as a businessman, Mr. Quintana, with the agreement of ICA, moved to the then Banco del Atlántico. It was there that he complemented his understanding in fundamental areas of the management and financial administration of a company. He still recognizes that this experience was very important in the consolidation of his professional growth. A few years later, when he rejoined ICA, the training he had gained at the bank would be key in carrying out his responsibilities as Executive Vice-president.

The challenge of keeping Grupo ICA afloat

In December 1994, because of Mr. Quintana’s capacity, vision and experience, he was appointed ICA’s President. His nomination took place at a time when the immediate circumstances would not be in the least easy. He became President just a few days before Mexico was plunged into a major economic and financial crisis, which would take several years to overcome and which would leave many companies in ruins. Nevertheless, with his customary leadership and tenacity, he and his determined and loyal team led the company out of this crisis to success.

“After a good year, the previous company president formally handed the position over to me on a Friday at the yearend assembly. There were speeches, slaps on the back and celebrations. Then, that weekend, 70% of the people went off on vacation and I stayed behind. I arrived at my new office on the following Monday, December 19, precisely the day that the gravity of the economic crisis that would shake Mexico was made known.”

“For many this would mean the end of their businesses, but one of our strategies had been to carefully manage our treasury and, with our high-quality assets, we were able to face the crisis.”

“The drop in accounts was immediate and enormous, so the team turned to other market alternatives, which, together with a strict reduction in expenses and the sale of several assets, led us to concentrate on our core businesses: infrastructure construction and general building.” This challenging situation accentuated the values Mr. Quintana had acquired, including the courage and determination a leader needs to overcome adversity.

“There were some very difficult moments and at times I was surprised by my own reactions. However, I had the presence of mind to be prudent and not lose hope, to tolerate the situation, because we were all very concerned. But, above all, I had something that was of vital importance: the support of the skillful, hard-working people surrounding me, and that’s how the company kept afloat.”

At the times when it was hard to decide which path to follow, values such as honesty, responsibility and respect for human capital, as well as an iron discipline and an innate awareness of the meaning of teamwork, allowed Mr. Quintana to set the course not only towards the company’s recovery, but also its sustained growth.

“The winning of the contract for the “El Cajón” hydroelectric plant brought the recovery we were looking for.” This highly complex project, the first of its kind to be financed privately, has earned and is still earning, thanks to its creative financing and the quality of its construction, many international honors such as the “Deal of the Year” from the magazines Euromoney and Project Finance International in recognition of its financing. But, more important than the prizes and awards, this project meant that Mr. Quintana and his team had managed to reaffirm ICA’s leadership and transcendence.

The individual as the beginning and end of his working vision

Realizing the objectives of each and every one of his projects does not lie in words or simple directions to his team, but in his capacity, through example and concrete actions, to establish an organizational culture that encourages respect for the individual, the ability to reach agreements and continuous improvement, all of this in a frame of outstanding teamwork.

“For me, the human aspect is fundamental. We are a service company. Anyone could have the same assets as ICA, but our true strength lies in our people.”

Over the years, Mr. Quintana has guided the company with a solid, competitive and consistent leadership style based on this ideology. He has played a vital role in maintaining ICA’s position as the number one construction company in Mexico and one of the most important in Latin America. During the past 60 years, the company has completed innumerable projects related to a wide variety of infrastructure initiatives, such as reservoirs, pipelines, highways, airports, bridges, hotels, hospitals, industrial facilities, stadiums and educational buildings, amongst many other works in Mexico and abroad.

Even though he views many of ICA’s projects as constructional symbols, he has a few personal favorites that are memorable for their legacy to society and for contributing to the common good: “The El Cajón hydroelectric plant because it gave the firm credibility in difficult times and because its quality has made it worthy of many honors; the Chiapas bridge, because of the complexity and innovation in its construction; and many other emblematic works, such as the new Basilica of Guadalupe, the Azteca Stadium, the Torre Mayor, the Palacio de los Deportes and the Metro, all of which have given us a great deal of personal satisfaction.”

Apart from the social importance that his work entails, for Mr. Quintana the development of a nation is directly related to its infrastructure, which is why he seeks to integrate human and physical elements in order to multiply the company’s projects and their ultimate benefit.

“Infrastructure projects generate jobs and have a direct impact on other construction-related industries because of the consumption of an infinite variety of materials and services. Therefore, these projects have a genuine impact on the growth of the national economy.”

His close relationship with education

Mr. Bernardo Quintana’s vision involves a constant openness to learning, in which each encounter, each person and each moment represents an experience that enriches the individual. Another important aspect of his life has unfolded from this vision: his interest in widely and permanently supporting higher education in Mexico.

Even though his conviction of fomenting the development of knowledge has led him to support several universities, his main focus has been on his alma mater, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). It was here that he completed his engineering degree and has sat on the Board of Trustees for a number of years.

“My background taught me to love the University and my father and I have always been close to it. I remember when I taught as a member of the faculty of engineering for almost 12 years, during which time I gained self-confidence and learnt how to transmit my knowledge in the classroom. The University offers, amongst other things, an authentic, very real reflection of our country; it is a place where you can learn inside and outside the classroom.”

His admiration for the UNAM’s social and educational mission has motivated him to be an active participant in its efforts, since apart from being a member of the Board of Trustees, he is Honorary Chairman of the UNAM Foundation, where he focuses his philanthropic efforts on the needs of the institution and of society in general.

An integral vision, the vision of a leader

At present, Mr. Quintana sits on the boards of diverse prominent organizations, including the Consejo Mexicano de Hombres de Negocios (Mexican Council of Businessmen) and companies such as Grupo Carso, CEMEX, TELMEX and INBURSA.

Even though he claims that his greatest satisfaction lies in his daily work performance, his testimony and professional achievements have earned him several honors, such as the first “Medal for Engineering Leadership” awarded by the Universidad Anáhuac to a leading engineer who is not an alumnus of that institution, and the “Good Neighbor” award from the Mexico-United States Chamber of Commerce for his commitment to the development of humanity and the community.

Mr. Quintana has focused his passion and efforts throughout his life on two major pillars: his family and his profession. He has built a solid foundation not only in his professional career but also in his home life. His support and respect for the individual is reflected in the formation of a solid family that shares and promotes his values. His wife, five children and eighteen grandchildren offer different types of motivation that also fill his life with enthusiasm and give meaning to the efforts that have led him to become one of Mexico’s most outstanding businessmen.

“I enjoy being with my grandchildren so much. They like to play with me and I try to encourage them to always do their best.”

Mr. Quintana’s vision for the future of civil engineering naturally includes fomenting an awareness of the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development. As a result, all of the projects his companies undertake stress the pressing need to care for and protect the environment in order to avoid ecological disasters with irreversible consequences.

“We must take into account vital topics such as water treatment and cleanliness, climate change, urban waste, the excess of cars and the uncontrolled use of gasoline, in fact, all of the problems afflicting large cities in this day and age. I am convinced that the only way to put them in order and make them more viable is to invest in the necessary infrastructure.”

With his disciplined, calm and modest personality, Bernardo Quintana has provided society with an invaluable capital: his leadership and his knowledge, but, above all, his commitment to make his projects transcend by offering tangible benefits for the nation and its people.

His persistent willingness to learn enhances his ability to direct, as he always views the capacity of the individual in general, and of his team in particular, as the cornerstone of his great works.