Tony Custer
Tony Custer is a leading Peruvian businessman and philanthropist. Born in Lima, he is the son and grandson, respectively, of Jacques R. Custer and Richard O. Custer, noted Swiss-Peruvian entrepreneurs. He was educated in Peru, the US and Europe, and currently heads the Corporación Custer as chairman and CEO, [1] as well as being president of The Fundación Custer (www.fundacioncuster.org) in Lima, Peru.[2]
Custer is also chair of the Advisory Council of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard, a director of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas in Washington DC., president of Peru′s Heritage-oriented Patronato Cultural del Perú, and is involved in numerous other institutions.
Childhood and education
Born in Lima on May 27, 1954, Custer attended at the Roosevelt School (American School) in Lima moving on to high school at the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut and the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland.
Custer then received a bachelor's degree (cum laude) in economics from Harvard College (1976) and an MBA from The Harvard Business School (1979).
Professional
The Custer Group of companies is in its 93rd year in Peru, having expanded to five countries: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Bolivia.
The company currently has three main divisions: agrochemicals and specialty chemicals (Interoc, [3]), foods (Comercia S.A. and Carter Snacks,[4]) and a real estate arm. The company employs over 1,000 people in these five countries.
Philanthropy
Custer founded The Fundación Custer in 1996. To date through its Aprendamos Juntos program, over 8,000 first graders and nearly 3,000 parents have had extensive remedial help in adjusting and better understanding their own or their children′s schooling (www.fundacioncuster.org). Along with this, The foundation assures the presence of the young Peruvian musicians selected every year to participate in the Youth Orchestra of the Americas programs.
Custer heads the Patronato Cultural del Perú (www.patronatoculturalperu.pe), as well as belonging to the Global Philanthropists′ Circle (Synergos, New York); the Group of 50 in Washington DC., Perú 2021 in Peru, as well as numerous museums and other NGO boards in Peru and abroad.
He is the author of The Art of Peruvian Cuisine volumes I and II, Peru′s best selling cookbook (www.artperucuisine.com). The entire proceeds of which are dedicated to sustaining and developing The Aprendamos Juntos Program. The same is true for his series of four children′s books featuring the moralizing adventures of a young bearcub Las aventuras del Osezno Febezno. He has designed and builds picnic boats and plays guitar in a rock n-roll band.
He is married to Ana María Guiulfo, one of Peru′s top fashion designers and has five children and six grandchildren.
References
- ↑ http://www.corporacioncuster.com www.corporacioncuster.com
- ↑ By Kim Allen-Jones (2012-08-06). "VIDEO: Tony Custer on his business and Peru's economy". Peru this Week. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
- ↑ http://www.interoc.com.ec www.interoc.com.ec
- ↑ http://www.comerciaperu.pe www.comerciaperu.pe