Roberto Jose Kriete Avila is a Salvadoran businessman. He is currently president of Grupo Kriete, Kingsland Holding in The Bahamas, the largest minority shareholder of Avianca Holdings, President of Aeroman and investor of Applaudo Studios. Founder and board member of the low-cost airlineVolaris in Mexico. On May 24, 2019, Kriete was appointed president of the board of directors of Avianca Airlines. His appointment to the board of directors came after the United States airline, United Airlines, exercised certain acquired rights in its relationship with BRW Aviation after granting it a loan of $ 451 million. Among those rights acquired by United Airlines was the possibility of redefining the company's CEO and Board of Directors.
Origin and family
Roberto José Kriete Ávila comes from a rich family in El Salvador. Kriete and his ex-brother-in-law, Ricardo Poma Delgado, according to Forbes magazine. Roberto Kriete's grandfather, Ricardo Kriete, came from San Francisco to San Salvador and married Lilian Homar, an heir to coffee farms in Usulután, El Salvador. After engaging in the agribusiness industry, in 1961 the Kriete family ventured into the aviation industry. Kriete's father, also named Ricardo Kriete, bought a 30 percent stake in Transportes Aéreos de Centroamérica, owned by Lowell Yerex, a New Zealander. Later Ricardo Kriete Jr. handed over the management of the company to his son, Roberto Kriete, in whose administration he acquired the entire company.
Education and career
Roberto Kriete earned a BA in Economics from Santa Clara University in California and a MBA from Boston College. Kriete returned to El Salvador in 1984 and has served as Deputy Director at Real InterContinental San Salvador, President of the Grupo Kriete Investment Company and President and CEO of TACA Holdings. Kriete was a member of the board of Avianca Holdings from February 2010 to August 2013, secretary and director of the "Banco Agrícola Comercial del Salvador SA", president of the "Fundación Coatepeque de El Salvador" and chief from twelve other companies. Kriete has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Mexican telecommunications companyTelmex. He is a member of the AGAPE Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Directors of "Aveos Fleet Performance Inc." He was also a member of the Board of Banco Agrícola de El Salvador. He has an official medal of the Legion of Honor by the French government and since 2007 has been an honorary member of "the Foundation for Salvadoran Economic and Social Development".
Personal life
Roberto Kriete has been married since 1979 to Celina Sol de Kriete, daughter of one of the founders of the party ARENA, Guillermo Sol Bang. They have two children.
