Biography - Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga

Biography

Since 1976, he has led the growth and expansion strategies of CMI – Corporación Multi Inversiones. As president of Pollo Campero for more than 30 years, he led its expansion throughout Central America and the United States. Campero has become the largest restaurant chain of Latin American origin in the world with presence in 7 countries and more than 460 restaurants, including over 100 in the United States and 25 in Ecuador.

In 2011 he became CMI’s Corporate President and in 2018 was appointed Chairman of CMI Foods. He is also a director of PRONACA, an Ecuadorian leading company dedicated to the production and distribution of food products. In 2025 he becomes Chairman of the Board of Del Real Foods, a leading Hispanic prepared foods company in the United States, following CMI’s acquisition of majority shares in 2024.

In 2005, Juan José Gutiérrez was acknowledged as one of the Super CEO’s and appeared in the cover of Newsweek USA and was also included among the “Ten Big Thinkers for Big Business”.

Between 1990-1995, he chaired the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations (CACIF), the Guatemalan Chamber of Industry (CIG), the Central American Federation of Chambers of Industry (FECAICA), and the Private Sector Federation of Associations of Central America and the Caribbean (FEDEPRICAP).

Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga has been part of the Board of Directors of the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation since 1985 and has been the President since 2020. The Foundation, CMI’s social arm and vehicle of gratitude to society, transforms lives through high impact programs where CMI has presence through 4 axes of action: Education, Health, Nutrition and Entrepreneurship.

Juan José’s involvement has proven a firm commitment to the future of the next generations and the improvement of people’s living conditions.

Business history

1976

1977

1982

1986

1988

1990-1995

2005

2011

2018

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Incorporation into Toledo

Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga completed his university studies. His initial plan to continue his education in the United States changed when he decided to join the team at CMI’s Toledo processed meats plant as General Manager.

Leadership of Pollo Campero

When he turned 23, he received the offer to take over the management of what was then a small chain of restaurants called Pollo Campero. At that time, the sense was that Pollo Campero had reached its state of maturity and should now only receive maintenance. However, that perception did not agree with Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga’s vision of the business. He believed that the fried chicken chain, which he now managed, had enormous growth potential.

Involvement in Pollo Campero’s internal processes

As part of his business discipline, and with the desire and need to better understand the restaurant business, Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga undertook the task of becoming involved in all the internal processes of Pollo Campero. He performed various functions such as frying the chicken, serving customers and collecting at the cash registers. These activities gave him a better vision of the business at the time, and of what it could become.

Pollo Campero management

Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga took over the management of Pollo Campero. Until then, his work experience had been related to the meat industry. Therefore, it was challenging to develop a growth strategy for a different industry and to seek to expand the restaurant business.

Transformation into a restaurant chain

At that time, Pollo Campero was not yet a restaurant chain; the concept was of cafeterias, with 14 points of sale in Guatemala and 5 in El Salvador. It was part of the corporation's poultry business with a vertical structure that cut out intermediaries, to reach the consumer directly. Creating expansion for the business required more than economic investment. This challenge involved a change in mindset and image. It was necessary to transform from coffee shops with a limited menu, to a growing chain of restaurants.

First restaurant in Miami

Pollo Campero opened its first restaurant in Coral Way, Miami. The operation lasted only one year. This apparent failure represented a school of vast learning for Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga about what it really took to grow a restaurant chain internationally. The lessons learned paid off four years later.

Growth in Guatemala and El Salvador

Since this year, the chain has sustained growth of approximately 10 restaurants per year, with Guatemala and El Salvador mainly responsible for this increase.

Presidency of associations, chambers, and federations

Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga was president of the Committee of Agricultural, Commercial and Financial Associations in Guatemala (CACIF), president of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala (CIG); President of the Federation of Chambers of Industry of Central America (FECAICA) and of the Federation of Private Sector Associations in Central America and the Caribbean (FEDEPRICAP).

Cover story in Newsweek

Newsweek USA featured Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga on its cover as one of the Super CEOs, naming him one of the “Ten Big Thinkers of Big Business”.

Corporate Presidency of CMI

He assumed the Corporate Presidency of CMI and since then has directed the growth and expansion strategies of the corporation's businesses.

Chairman of CMI Alimentos

He was appointed Chairman of CMI Foods. He was also the director of PRONACA, a leading Ecuadorian company dedicated to the production and distribution of food products.

Presidency of the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation

He assumed the presidency of the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation, after the passing of Mrs. Isabel Gutiérrez de Bosch.

100 years of CMI

CMI Celebrates 100 Years of Great Stories to Tell. Pollo Campero Marks 50 Years of Success.

Leadership continues

The corporation is gearing up for its next century of history, under the leadership of Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga and Juan Luis Bosch Gutiérrez.

Expansion in the United States

With a strong growth strategy, Pollo Campero is expanding in the United States.

Expansion in the United States continues

CMI acquires a majority stake in Del Real Foods in the United States

Del Real Foods

Assumes position as Chairman of the Board at Del Real Foods