Biography of Fernando Aguirre

Fernando Aguirre is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chiquita Brands International, Inc., where he assumed the leadership role in January, 2004.

Prior to Chiquita, Aguirre worked for more than 23 years in brand management, general management and turnarounds at Procter and Gamble. (P&G).  Aguirre began his P&G career in 1980 in marketing in Mexico, moved to Cincinnati in 1986, then moved to Canada in 1988, and in 1991 became General Manager of laundry, household and cleaning products back in Mexico. 

In 1992, Aguirre became President & GM of P&G Brazil, where he led an unprofitable business and turned it into the second-largest and second-most-profitable Latin America P&G subsidiary.  He became President of P&G Mexico in 1996, where his team increased profit nearly tenfold. 

In 1999, Aguirre became Vice President of P&G’s global and U.S. snacks and food products. In July 2000, Aguirre was promoted to President of global feminine care. In July 2002, Aguirre was named President, special projects, reporting to P&G’s Chairman and CEO, working on strategy.

He joined Young Presidents Organization in 1991 and served as president of the Mexico City chapter in 1997-1998. He is currently a member of YPO’s Cincinnati chapter and of YPO’s International Chapter.  He serves on the board of directors for Chiquita Brands International, Coca-Cola Enterprises and is also a member of the International Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  In 2001, Aguirre helped form a corporate advisory board for the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, where he served as its first chairman for three years. He is also a member of the Cincinnati Business Committee (CBC).

A native of Mexico, Aguirre obtained a full baseball scholarship at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where he competed four years.  He earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration with a specialty in marketing in 1980.  Aguirre is married and has two sons, ages 18 and 14. He holds a tae kwan do brown belt and plays recreational golf.