Alberto Benavides de la Quintana
Alberto Benavides de la Quintana | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 20, 1920 Lima, Peru |
| Died | February 12, 2014 (aged 93) |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Buenaventura Mining Company |
Alberto Benavides de la Quintana (October 20, 1920 – February 12, 2014) was a distinguished Peruvian engineer and entrepreneur, widely recognized as the founder of the Buenaventura Mining Company. After completing his engineering studies at the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería in Lima, he became the first Peruvian to graduate from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1944. In recognition of his career achievements, he was honored with the Harvard Lifetime Achievement Award by the Harvard Club of Peru in 2011.
Early life and education
Alberto Benavides de la Quintana was born in Lima, Peru, into a family with notable political and professional backgrounds. His father, Alberto Benavides Diez Canseco, was a respected lawyer and magistrate linked to influential individuals such as First Lady Francisca Benavides Diez Canseco and architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski. His mother, Blanca de la Quintana Cichero, was the daughter of Ismael de la Quintana Elías, a former Minister of Finance.
He completed his primary and secondary schooling at Colegio de la Inmaculada in Lima by 1936. In 1945, he married Elsa Ganoza de la Torre, who was the daughter of Vice President Eduardo Ganoza y Ganoza and niece of Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, founder of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance. Together they had five children, including Roque Benavides Ganoza.
Benavides earned his engineering degree from the National University of Engineering in 1941 and subsequently obtained a master's degree in geology from Harvard University through a scholarship provided by Cerro de Pasco Corporation.
Career
Following his graduation from Harvard, Benavides worked with Cerro de Pasco Corporation until 1953, when he established the Buenaventura Mining Company, beginning with the development of the Julcani silver mine. Later expansions included the acquisition and operation of Recuperada, Uchuchaccua, and Orcopampa mines.
In 1964, he assumed the role of CEO at Cerro de Pasco Corporation. After seven years in that position, he departed to create the Mining Section within the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
Benavides held the position of General Manager at Buenaventura during two periods: 1953–1964 and 1971–2001. Under his leadership, Buenaventura became the first Latin American mining firm to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1996. Additionally, he served as general director and chairman of its board from 1981 until 2011, when he transferred executive responsibilities to his son Roque Benavides Ganoza.
His expertise extended to several prominent organizations such as the Geological Society of Peru (serving terms during 1961–1963 and 1974–1975), the Mining Scientific Technological Institute - INCITEME (1975–1976), and INGEMMET (1980–1985). Moreover, he was a member of Telefónica del Perú's Board from 1998 until his passing in 2014.
With an estimated net worth reported by Forbes magazine at $2 billion, his family ranked among Peru’s top five wealthiest households, underscoring their substantial impact within the mining industry.