Roberto Kriete

Roberto Kriete
Name	Roberto Kriete
Birth date	1949
Birth place	Guatemala City, Guatemala
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	CEO of TACA Airlines; Chairman and CEO of Avianca Holdings
Alma mater	University of Texas at Austin

Roberto Kriete is a Guatemalan-born business executive and entrepreneur known for his leadership in Latin American aviation and technology industries. He rose to prominence as chief executive of TACA Airlines and later played a central role in the consolidation that produced Avianca Holdings, engaging with major carriers, investors, and regulatory institutions across the Americas and Europe. His career has intersected with multinational corporations, regional airlines, banking groups, and philanthropic organizations.

Early life and education

Born in Guatemala City, Kriete attended schools in Central America before pursuing higher education in the United States at the University of Texas at Austin. At UT Austin he engaged with programs connected to business and engineering and developed networks that linked him to executives from Latin America, the United States, and Spain. During his formative years he encountered figures from prominent families and institutions across Guatemala and El Salvador, shaping his orientation toward aviation and finance.

Business career

Kriete's business career spans sectors including aviation, information technology, and financial services. Early roles connected him to technology firms and systems integrators that served airlines and travel companies, involving collaborations with firms based in Silicon Valley, New York City, and London. He became associated with executive teams that negotiated with aviation manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus and with leasing companies in Ireland and Switzerland. Over decades he worked with major banks, investors, and holding groups from Mexico City to Miami, navigating regulatory environments involving agencies in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Leadership at TACA and Avianca Holdings

As chief executive at TACA Airlines, Kriete oversaw strategic initiatives that expanded route networks, modernized fleets, and restructured operations to compete with regional and international carriers such as Copa Airlines, LATAM Airlines Group, and Aeroméxico. He negotiated commercial agreements and alliances involving global distribution systems and interline partners including United Airlines, American Airlines, and members of global alliances headquartered in Belgium and Germany. During the complex merger processes that led to the formation of Avianca Holdings, he worked with executives and shareholders from Grupo Synergy, regulatory authorities in Brazil and Chile, and investment firms in New York City and Bogotá. The consolidation required coordination with aviation regulators such as agencies in Colombia and Ecuador and with aircraft lessors and manufacturers in France and Germany. Under his leadership, the combined carrier faced competition and strategic alignment with legacy airlines including Pan American World Airways histories and modern carriers like Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways.

Other ventures and board memberships

Beyond commercial aviation, Kriete participated in ventures spanning software, telecommunications, and venture capital. He served on boards and advisory councils alongside executives from multinational corporations headquartered in United States, Spain, and United Kingdom. His board roles connected him to banking groups and financial institutions in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama, and to industry associations based in Washington, D.C. and Brussels. He engaged with private equity and institutional investors with interests across Latin America and Europe, collaborating with partners from firms based in London and Zurich.

Philanthropy and civic activities

Kriete has been involved in philanthropic efforts and civic initiatives focused on development, health, and education across Central and South America. He supported programs and foundations working with institutions in Guatemala City, San Salvador, and Bogotá, collaborating with nonprofit organizations and international aid agencies from United Nations and regional development banks. His civic activities brought him into contact with cultural and educational institutions operating in coordination with universities and think tanks in Austin, Madrid, and Buenos Aires.

Personal life and honors

Kriete has maintained residences and business bases in key cities across the Americas and has been recognized by industry bodies and chambers of commerce for leadership in aviation and cross-border commerce. Honors and recognitions he received involved organizations and award committees from Colombia, El Salvador, and Guatemala, and from international aviation associations headquartered in Montreal and Geneva. He has been profiled in leading business publications and engaged in speaking events hosted by institutions in Miami, New York City, and Bogotá.

Category:Guatemalan businesspeople Category:Airline executives Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni