José María Figueres Early Entrepreneurial Experience

Upon returning to Costa Rica in 1979 after finishing his studies at West Point, José María Figueres found the agro-industrial business established by his father in 1928, Sociedad Agroindustrial San Cristóbal (SAISC), at the verge of bankruptcy, victim of the debt crisis that hit all of Latin America.
At the age of 26, José María found himself charged with a complete restructuring of SAISC. Under his leadership as CEO, the company sold off all of its non performing assets, shed all non-core businesses, and renegotiated the company’s national and international debts.

After five years of tireless efforts by the management team José María had assembled, SAISC regained its footing, and by the late 1980’s had consolidated its traditional businesses. Based on this success, it then diversified into new businesses aimed at export markets.

Today SAISC is one of the leading family business groups in the country, with investments in plastics, fertilizers, energy, ferns, heart of palm and retail groceries.