José Luis Manzano, the Latin American businessman who accelerates his international expansion with new investments in Spain

For years, José Luis Manzano has maintained a discreet profile in Europe. However, the Argentine businessman has become one of the most active names in the Latin American economic landscape after starring in some of the most relevant corporate operations in recent months. The acquisition of Telefónica Perú and, subsequently, the purchase of Shell's assets in Argentina together with Mercuria have consolidated his position as one of the region's major investors.

With a business career built over more than three decades, Manzano leads a diversified group with a presence in sectors considered strategic for economic development: energy, telecommunications, electricity distribution, infrastructure, and media. His investment model is characterized by identifying assets with growth potential and developing long-term projects in industries essential to the economy.

His career began in Argentine politics, where he held top-level responsibilities during the Government of Carlos Menem. That institutional experience later gave way to intense business activity that has allowed him to become one of the most influential investors in Latin America, combining strategic vision, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to lead complex operations.

One of the pillars of that trajectory has been the communication sector. Manzano is co-owner of Grupo América, considered the second largest private media group in Argentina, with a presence in television, radio, digital platforms, and regional press. The experience accumulated over decades in the audiovisual field also explains his recent minority participation in La Séptima, the new national television channel launched in Spain, an operation that represents the beginning of a broader growth strategy in the Spanish market.

His interest in Spain is not limited to the audiovisual sector. The businessman has also begun to promote projects linked to high-quality gastronomy with the arrival in Madrid of Gurisa, the renowned restaurant created together with chef Lucas Bustos and converted into one of the great references of fire cooking in José Ignacio (Uruguay). The new establishment brings to the Spanish capital a gastronomic concept practically unprecedented in Europe, based on fire as the central element of the culinary experience and the excellence of the product.

The recent inclusion of José Luis Manzano among the 25 most influential businessmen in Latin America in the report prepared by the Coordenadas Institute precisely reflects this business evolution. The study highlights his ability to combine institutional experience, corporate leadership, and a growing international projection in strategic sectors for the economy.

With significant operations in telecommunications, energy, media, and restoration, Manzano represents a new generation of Latin American businessmen who have transformed Ibero-America into an integrated economic space, driving investments capable of connecting both sides of the Atlantic.

Spain holds a prominent place within this strategy. The recent investments developed in the country reflect a commitment to consolidate a stable presence in sectors with high growth potential and strengthen economic, business, and cultural ties between Latin America and Europe. More than a one-time arrival, José Luis Manzano's expansion responds to a long-term vision that seeks to make Spain one of the development platforms for his next business stage.