Ricardo Martinelli
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Ricardo Martinelli GColIH |
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| 36th President of Panama | |
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In office July 1, 2009 – July 1, 2014 |
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| Vice President | Juan Carlos Varela |
| Preceded by | Martín Torrijos |
| Succeeded by | Juan Carlos Varela |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 11, 1952 Panama City, Panama |
| Political party | Democratic Change |
| Spouse(s) | Marta Linares (1978–present) |
| Alma mater |
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Central American Institute of Business Administration |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal, GColIH (born March 11, 1951) is a Panamanian politician and businessman who was the 36th President of Panama from 2009 to 2014.
Born in Panama City, Ricardo Martinelli is the son of Ricardo Martinelli Pardini and Gloria Berrocal Fabrega. His father is of Italian descent, and his mother is of Spanish descent. He completed his secondary education at Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia, in the United States. In 1973 he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the INCAE Business School in 1977, graduating from its campus in Nicaragua.
Martinelli began his career as a credit officer at Citibank in Panama. After several years of banking, he purchased the business of a client, in turn becoming an entrepreneur, buying or starting additional businesses. His net worth was estimated at $1.1 billion or more, according to press reports. The Economist stated on his winning the 2009 election, that voters "want him to run the country as well as he manages his businesses."
He is currently the president and director of the board of Panamanian supermarket chain Super 99 and of two other companies.
During the presidency of Ernesto Pérez Balladares, Martinelli served as Director of Social Security from 1994 to 1996. From September 1999 to January 2003, during the presidency of Mireya Moscoso, he served as chairman of the board of directors of the Panama Canal and as the Minister for Canal Affairs.
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