Calixto Ortega Sánchez
Calixto José Ortega Sánchez | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, Diplomat |
| Known for | President of the Central Bank of Venezuela |
Calixto José Ortega Sánchez is a Venezuelan engineer and diplomat who has been serving as the President of the Central Bank of Venezuela since June 19, 2018.
Education
Ortega earned a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Zulia and holds master's degrees in Finance (MBA) from Rice University as well as Economic Policy Management from Columbia University. Throughout his academic journey, he received several distinctions, including recognition on the University of Zulia's Honor Roll.
Career
In 2009, during his tenure as consul in Houston, Ortega was declared persona non grata amid diplomatic disputes between Venezuela and the United States. Beginning in 2014, he served as consul both in Houston and New York prior to his role as a senior advisor at Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
Ortega was named vice president of administration and finance at Citgo in November 2017, shortly before the company's president was arrested. Subsequent inquiries revealed that his L1 visa appointment did not comply with U.S. regulations governing cross-border executive transfers. Following his involvement in Venezuela’s presidential election, Ortega was denied re-entry into the United States in May 2018 due to visa issues, which led to his exit from Citgo.
Although the constitution mandates National Assembly approval for the Central Bank presidency—a body currently dominated by the opposition—the 2017 Constituent National Assembly appointed Ortega as BCV president on June 19, 2018. He succeeded Ramon Lobo under the recommendation of President Nicolás Maduro.
Tenure
Calixto Ortega has occupied several significant roles such as:
- Vice President of Finance at CITGO
- Advisor at Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA)
- Consul General of Venezuela in both New York and Houston, Texas, United States
- Representative of Venezuela to the Administration and Budget Commission at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations