Carlos Gutierrez

Carlos Gutierrez is a business leader and former senior government official whose career includes leadership roles in corporate America and the U.S. federal government. Gutierrez is among the few executives to have led a Fortune 500 company and later served in a presidential Cabinet, offering insight into global trade, immigration, economic policy, supply chains, geopolitical risk, and workforce development. Fortune magazine recognized him as one of the most powerful Hispanic Americans in business.

Gutierrez spent nearly three decades with Kellogg Company, a global manufacturer and marketer of food brands. He held assignments in Latin America, Canada, Asia, and the United States before becoming president and chief executive officer. Gutierrez was the youngest CEO in the company's history. Under his leadership, Kellogg Company experienced significant growth, and Fortune profiled him as "The Man Who Fixed Kellogg." He was later named chairman of the board.

After his tenure at Kellogg Company, Gutierrez was nominated and confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. As the 35th Commerce Secretary, he played key roles in trade agreements, worked with foreign governments and business leaders to advance economic relationships, and contributed to immigration legislation. Gutierrez served as co-chair for the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba and advocated for comprehensive immigration reform, focusing on border security, addressing undocumented residents, and creating a legal immigration system aligned with economic needs.

Following his government service, Gutierrez joined Citi as vice chairman of the Institutional Clients Group and was a member of the Senior Strategic Advisory Group. He is chairman of Republicans for Immigration Reform, a political action group he co-founded, and chair emeritus of Albright Stonebridge Group, where he advised multinational organizations on strategy and global growth.

Gutierrez is co-founder and executive chairman of EmPath, where he focuses on workforce strategy, skills development, and closing the gap between organizational needs and workforce capabilities. He addresses topics such as trade and tariffs, U.S.-China competition, workforce transformation, immigration, Latin America, organizational change, and North American competitiveness.