Antonio Celia

CEO, Promigas

Promigas’ CEO since 1992, a Colombian organization in the energy and natural gas sector with more than 40 years of experience and a holding comprised of 13 companies and an inclusive business -Brilla-benefiting with credits approximately more than 650.000 people at the BOP. Leader of the widespread use of natural gas as preferred fuel. Today, approximately 25 million Colombians, most of them which belong to very low income levels, have been impacted positively with access to this utility.

Has been involved with several organizations such as the most important national association of entrepreneurs -ANDI-, where he served as president of the board for two years, the think tanks Fedesarrollo and Fundesarrollo, consultative board of the Banco de la República and served for several years as board member of the peace investment fund Fondo de Inversiones para la Paz -FIP-. Actually, he is president of the board of Naturgas, the Natural Gas Association in Colombia, chairman of several natural gas companies and others in different economic sectors in this country, and recently appointed by the President Juan Manuel Santos as board member of the Colombian National Adaptation Fund and Calamity Fund- Colombia Humanitaria.

Renowned advocate for promoting sustainable development for his city, Caribbean region and the country from the private sector and a true believer that entrepreneurs not only have a commitment with their shareholders but with the society as a whole. Has served as president of the city of Barranquilla’s Chamber of Commerce, played an active role in the privatization of the water utility in Barranquilla and is Vice-President of the board of the Universidad del Norte, the most influential educational institution in the Colombian Caribbean region. Quality education is his social focus for considering it an essential tool for diminishing poverty and providing for social equity. Founder of the Promigas Foundation, which benefits, in average, 600 schools, 2.300 teachers and 300.000 students where Promigas operates; Co-founder and chairman of “Empresarios por la Educación”; member of The Business Council of the Americas -CEAL- and the board of directors of Endeavor Colombia and chairman of the board of Shakira´s “Pies Descalzos” foundation. Mr. Celia has actively engaged in several local cultural initiatives as founder sponsor of the MAMB (Museum of Modern Art of Barranquilla), Museo del Caribe, El Carnaval de las Artes, all of which aim to preserve, rescue and promote local art and culture and Fundación La Cueva, a foundation created with the mission of rescuing the memory of the Barranquilla Group, whose most notorious member was the Colombian Noble Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez.

Engineer from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, with Executive Education at Universidad de los Andes, MIT and Wharton business schools.

Awarded as “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Colombia (Premios Portafolio-2009); Social Leader (Revista Semana-2011); PODER ABC Awards-2010).