| Samuel Lewis Galindo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samuel Lewis Galindo Panama |
| Nationality | Panamanian |
| Occupation | Businessman, writer |
| Known for | Businessman, writer, politician |
Samuel Lewis Galindo (born on June 4, 1927 in Panama City, Panama) is a businessman, politician and author of essays and articles about current political, economic and social development of Panama. His published books include 900 Days: Collapse of a Dictatorship and[1][2] He held corporate positions as General Manager of Industrias Panameñas, S.A., Director and General Manager and Vice President of the Board of Cerveceria Nacional, S.A. and Distribuidora Comercial, S.A. and was the Founder and President of Banco del Istmo, S.A. He served in the board of directors of several companies such as Envases del Istmo, Industria Nacional de Plasticos, Metalforma, S. A., Compañia Nacional de Seguros, S. A. (CONASE), Construcciones Nacionales, S.A., among others. He also participated in several national councils and commissions, including the National Economic Council and the National Investment Council. In 1994, he was presidential candidate of the Republic of Panama for the Solidaridad Party, of which he was a founding member. [3]
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He is the son of Samuel Lewis Arango (1901-1972) and Raquel Galindo de Lewis. He attended primary and secondary school at Colegio La Salle in Panama City. Briefly studied at Soule College in the United States.
Lewis Galindo has participated in several business associations, such as; the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) and the Union of Industrialists of Panama.
He has received various awards including the Vasco Núñez de Balboa Order, Ecuador Order of Merit, the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama - Presidential Distinction in 2000, and was named Executive the Year by the Panamanian Association of Business Executives in 2006.
He is married to Itza Morgan Lewis, with whom he had 7 children: Samuel (who died at early age), Enrique, Mario, Adriana, Roberto, Ricardo and Itza Maria.
Lewis Galindo began his journalistic career in the newspaper El Pais, occupying the position of Chief Editor, Deputy Director and columnist.
His public and diplomatic life began in 1955, as Special Ambassador for the meeting of Presidents of the American Republics. During 1956 he served as Council member for Capital District, where he also was elected several times President of that body.
In 1957, he represented Panama as Alternate Ambassador to the United Nation's General Assembly in the United States.
In 1977 he was a member of the National Economic Council, while between 1984 and 1985 was President of the National Investment Council.
In 1996 he participated as a member of the Foreign Affairs National Council of the Republic of Panama.
At the corporate level, he served in the 60's as general manager and director of Industrias Panameñas, S.A. (IPSA). Lewis Galindo participated on the boards of Industrias de Carton Corrugado in Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala. During this period, he was also member of the board of Ceverceria Nacional.
He was appointed as General Manager of the Cerveceria Nacional from 1970 to 1991. Between 1991 and 2001, he served as Vice President of the Board of the company.
During his career as General Manager, he was actively involved in the brewing industry of the region; as President of the Central American Association of Brewers between 1980 and 1985.
In 1984, he founded the Banco del Istmo and served as Chairman of the Board until 2006. This bank, which later became Banistmo, developed into the largest Panamanian bank in Central America. Also, he has been involved in civic and philanthropic activities as president and founder of the Panama's Heart Foundation; as well as member of the board of trustees of the Patronato Panama Viejo, which was formed to rescue the first city of Panama, established by the Spaniards in the Pacific Coast of the Continent in 1519.
In addition, he has been member of Fundacion Universidad de Panama, and served as its President in the period 2006-2007.