Birth and Family

Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga was born in Guatemala City in 1958. He belongs to the third generation of the founding family of CMI – Corporación Multi Inversiones, established by his grandfather Juan Bautista Gutiérrez. His close relatives include his brother Dionisio Gutiérrez Mayorga and his cousin Juan Luis Bosch Gutiérrez.

Education and Early Roles

After completing his university education, he joined CMI at a very young age. In 1976–1977 he worked at the Toledo processed meats plant and, at just 23 years old, in 1982, he became the general manager of Pollo Campero, the restaurant chain founded in 1971 out of the family’s poultry business. From that position, he pushed forward a strategy of standardization and expansion.

Leadership in Pollo Campero and International Expansion

As president of Pollo Campero for more than 30 years, he oversaw its expansion across Central America, the United States, and Europe. By 2005, the brand already had 196 restaurants in 9 countries, and in 2006 opened its first location in Spain. Today, it remains one of the most successful Latin American restaurant chains abroad. In 2015, El País described Pollo Campero as a “Guatemalan flavor for export,” with about 300 restaurants in 14 countries at that time.

Executive Roles at CMI

In 2011, Gutiérrez was appointed Corporate President of CMI, and in 2018 he became Chairman of CMI Alimentos (CMI Foods), from where he oversees the food businesses: wheat and corn flour, pasta, cookies, poultry and pork, processed meats, animal feed, and restaurants (with Pollo Campero as its flagship brand). He also serves on the board of PRONACA (Ecuador).

Recognition

In June 2005, Newsweek included him among the “10 Big Thinkers for Big Business”, highlighting him as a “Super CEO” for his expansion vision and focus on systematizing operations before scaling internationally.

Philanthropy and Social Role

Since 1985, he has served on the board of the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation (CMI’s social arm), and since 2020 he has chaired it. The foundation promotes programs in education (scholarships), health, nutrition, and entrepreneurship, with regional impact.

Recent Developments

Under his leadership at CMI Alimentos, the corporation has expanded further in the United States. In October 2024, CMI announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Del Real Foods, a leading U.S. Hispanic refrigerated foods company. In 2025, CMI confirmed that Gutiérrez became Chairman of Del Real Foods’ board, strengthening the group’s U.S. platform.

Impact

Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga’s trajectory combines executive leadership with long-term vision: he professionalized Pollo Campero and turned it into an international brand, consolidated CMI Alimentos as a major multilatina with operations in over 15 countries, and spearheaded strategic investments (like Del Real Foods) to accelerate growth in the U.S.—while maintaining an active commitment to social development through the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation.

You may also be interested in: The 5 Skills Every Great Business Leader Need