Since 1972, the Chicago Booth School of Business Distinguished Alumni Awards have honored outstanding alumni achievements, and those who embody the school’s dedication to limitless inquiry and courageous leadership.
This week we’ll look at the winners of the 2014 Corporate Award, Entrepreneurial Award, Public Service Award, and Young Alumni Award that given out to four alumni who have made an impact across the business world. Yesterday you read about, Dhiraj Rajaram, winner of the Distinguished Public Service Award. Today, you’ll meet Alfredo Moreno Charme.
Alfredo Moreno Charme, ’82, has made an enormous impact on the expanded economic opportunities for Chile through intuitive diplomacy. Moreno, the Chilean minister of foreign affairs since 2010, brought a career’s worth of experience in banking to his country’s public sector. Beginning in 1987, Moreno served as vice president of Banco Penta, which later became Banco de Chile. In 2000, Moreno parlayed the $12 million sale of the bank to Chile’s leading business conglomerate, Luksic Group.
As minister of foreign affairs, Moreno capitalized on a 2005 free trade agreement with China that boosted the import of Chilean goods in China. In 2010, China was the single largest importer of Chilean copper– 60-percent of the value of Chile’s exports.
Moreno also has strived to make government more transparent and has encouraged surrounding Latin America countries to take a similar course. In turn, he has helped strengthen foreign investor confidence in the region. Thanks to Moreno’s efforts, Chile increasingly has assumed a leadership role in Latin America and has helped enhance the country’s stature in the continent. Moreno has often guiding the conversation on contentious issues, including the expansion of nuclear energy. He also is an active alumnus who serves on the Americas Cabinet of the Booth Global Advisory Board.
“Chile has been pursuing the principles of democracy, human rights, and free trade. These are principles that are not going to change,” said Moreno in 2010 interview with China.org.
Next Monday, we’ll meet the winner of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.
