Despite the steady growth of the Hispanic population and an increasing number of Hispanic politicians and high-ranking executives, Hispanic representation in corporate boardrooms (an estimated 3 percent) remains poor, according to this year's Boardroom Elite list.
Each year, Hispanic Business magazine assembles its Boardroom Elite, a listing of Hispanics serving as directors of companies appearing in the Fortune 500. There were 79 Hispanic individuals on 107 seats – 9 more members than last year. In January 2006, there were 67 Hispanics serving as directors of 96 companies.
Hispanic women makeup 23 of this year's board seats. One of those women, Linda Alvarado, serves on more than one board. Ms. Alvarado is one of 18 Hispanics who serve on multiple boards. Others include Enrique Hernandez, Roland Hernandez, and Armando Codina.
A notable departure this year is Henry G. Cisneros, who resigned from Countrywide Financial's board in October. The former United States housing and urban development secretary's exit came at a time when the nation's largest mortgage lender is facing one of the biggest mortgage crisis to hit the United States in decades. Mr. Cisneros reportedly left the board to focus on CityView America, a homebuilder financing company he founded.
Still, some like Patricia Salas Pineda, who sat on Levi Strauss' board, are no longer on the list because their company dropped off the Fortune 500. The new additions include Cari Dominguez at Manpower Inc. and Juan Cento at Assurant.
The following list includes all Hispanics currently sitting on the boards of Fortune 500 companies and their companies. This is not an exhaustive list of all companies on whose boards they sit.
2008 BOARDROOM ELITE
Fernando Aguirre*
Current: Chairman and CEO of Chiquita Brands since 2004
Boards: Chiquita Brands*
Coca-Cola Enterprises
Jose Maria Alapont*
Current: Chariman, president, and CEO of Federal-Mogul Corp. since 2005
Board: Federal-Mogul Corp.
Donna Alvarado
Current: Former federal official is founder and president of Aguila International, a business consulting firm
Board: CSX Corp.
Linda G. Alvarado
Current: Founder, president and CEO of Denver-based Alvarado Construction
Boards: 3M Co.
The Pepsi Bottling Group
Pitney Bowes Inc.
QWEST Inc.
Aida Alvarez
Current: Former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration
Board: Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Ralph Alvarez
Current: President and COO of McDonald's Corp.
Board: KeyCorp
Mario L. Baeza
Current: Founder and controlling shareholder of Baeza & Co., and founder and executive chairman of V-Me Media Inc.
Board: Air Products and Chemicals
Abelardo E. Bru
Current: Retired vice-chairman of PepsiCo Inc., and former CEO of Frito-Lay North America
Boards: Kimberly-Clark
Office Depot Inc.
Paul A. Brunner
Current: President and CEO of Spring Capital Inc.
Board: Johnson Controls Inc.
Anna R. Cablik
Current: President of Marietta, Georgia-based Anasteel & Supply Co.
