Antonio Celia

Antonio Celia is the former CEO of Promigas, one of the oldest private companies in the natural gas industry of Latin America, since 1992 and is currently a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics.   

 

Mr. Celia is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grupo Nutresa and Naturgas – Natural Gas Association–an entity that represents the natural gas industry in Colombia; President of the Private Competitiveness Council; and member of the board of Directors of Colombian think-tank Fedesarrollo. He is founding partner and member of the Board of Directors of Empresarios para la Educación, an association of businessmen in support of education, where he played an important role as a Chairman during seven years.

 

He also serves as a Chairman of the Board of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, sponsored by Shakira, the well-known Colombian singer and composer; member of the Board of Directors of the Ideas for Peace Foundation, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Universidad del Norte.  Mr. Celia has been a promoter of several cultural initiatives and serves as  Chairman of Fundación la Cueva, which honours the memory of the “Group of Barranquilla” once led by the Noble laureate Gabriel Garcia Márquez.  For his performance as a business and social leader, he has received several awards and recognitions from several Colombian newspapers and organizations, including Portafolio (the leading business daily), Semana (the country’s leading weekly) and the Liderazgo y Democracia Foundation. 

 

Earlier this year he was awarded the Cruz de Boyacá, the highest distinction conferred by the government of Colombia.  Mr. Celia completed a BSc in Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute of Massachusetts and executive education courses from the Universidad de los Andes, MIT, the Wharton School of Business, and LSE.