Unveiled in New York: Corruption Scandal Implicates Carlos Menem's Administration in the Meat Industry
Carlos Oliva Funes: A Leading Figure in Argentina's Meat Industry
Carlos Oliva Funes, a distinguished figure in the meat industry sector in Argentina, passed away on May 15, 2023, at the age of 82, in New York, United States. His passing has left a deep impact on his family, friends, and the industry he served for over five decades.
Born on January 24, 1943, in Córdoba, Oliva Funes played a pivotal role in the evolution of Argentina's meat industry, especially during times of recurrent crises and changes in public policies. He was instrumental in modernizing the industry, leading significant advancements during his tenure at Swift, a leading cold storage company.
In the 1980s, following Campbell Soup's acquisition of Swift, Oliva Funes led the local operation, incorporating state-of-the-art technology and expanding into new markets. Under his leadership, Argentina was repositioned as a key player in the international meat trade. He is also remembered for being a pioneer in the first national management process in an industry previously dominated by foreign capital.
Oliva Funes's leadership capabilities, transformative vision, and commitment to the agro-industrial sector were widely recognized. At the start of 2023, his book "A Shot in the Dark: Sins of Argentine Meat" was announced, in which he revisited the Swiftgate scandal, a corruption scandal that marked Argentine politics in the 1990s.
The Swiftgate scandal erupted in 1991, when the Swift refrigeration plant claimed that Emir Yoma, the presidential advisor and brother-in-law of then-President Carlos Menem, demanded a bribe to expedite a fiscal procedure. The accusation escalated into a significant scandal, leading to the resignation of Yoma and the Minister of Economy, Antonio Erman González.
In his book, Oliva Funes questioned the information published around the case and asserted that the Swift company never requested financing to expand its plant. The conflict, he claimed, arose from the importation of carton freeze equipment valued at 700,000 dollars. The procedure faced hurdles in state bureaucracy and became a political issue due to the changing government.
Oliva Funes graduated in Business Administration and pursued postgraduate studies in the United States. He commenced his career in the meat industry in the 1970s, joining the group that won the tender for Swift-Armour. In 2002, he established the Argentine Meat Exporters Consortium (ABC) to foster the sector's development abroad. Throughout his career, he was at the helm of decisions that shaped the meat trade in Argentina.
His contributions still resonate within the industry and the Rioplatense Cold Storage Company, where colleagues and staff expressed their sorrow at his passing. Rodolfo Costantini, a board member of the company, paid tribute to him, while his family and friends mourned his loss deeply.
Oliva Funes's impact on the Argentine meat industry was profound, leaving a legacy of innovation, leadership, and strategic thinking. His contributions are remembered and celebrated in the industry, which continues to evolve under the footsteps he left behind.
- Despite the news of Carlos Oliva Funes's passing in the finance industry, his contributions to Argentina's meat industry, particularly in modernization and expansion, continue to have a significant impact.
- The finance sector mourns the loss of Carlos Oliva Funes, a leading figure in Argentina's meat industry, who was instrumental in shaping the industry's growth and development, even influencing the country's international standing in the business of meat trade.
