Caracas, March 17, 2026 – The Institute of Higher Studies in Administration (IESA) announced the appointment of physician and entrepreneur Andrés Simón González-Silén as the new chair of its Board of Directors. With this appointment, González-Silén becomes the youngest person to assume the chairmanship of the institution’s highest governing body in its more than 60-year history.
Founder and current leader of Grupo Venemergencia, a leading organization in the health and healthcare sector in Venezuela, González-Silén brings a vision that integrates a business strategy focused on social impact with technological innovation and operational excellence. His appointment as president of IESA symbolizes a bridge between the institution’s solid academic tradition and the new generations, taking into account the demands and challenges of the digital and global economy.
Gratitude and Institutional Commitment
Upon assuming the position, the new president expressed his deep gratitude to the Board of Directors for the trust placed in him: "It is an honor and an immense responsibility to lead an institution that has been the pillar of managerial, ethical, and business thought in Venezuela. I take on this commitment alongside an exceptional team comprising Alberto Afiuni, CMP at EY Venezuela, and Ernesto Blohm, President of Beconsult, with the goal of honoring the legacy of those who came before us while adapting our mission to the challenges of a present that excites us and a future that inspires us,” stated González-Silén.
IESA as a driver of partnerships and progress
González-Silén’s leadership will focus on institutional evolution. Given the complex current context, the new president envisions IESA not only as a business school but as a center for strategic thought that is fundamental to the country’s new economic and institutional challenges.
A key element of his vision is strategic leadership, fostering organic cooperation between the private sector, academia, and the public sector to overcome current national challenges.
Vision for the Future: From Management to Social Transformation
The horizon of this administration seeks to transcend business management to focus on the comprehensive development of leaders. “We seek leaders who not only manage organizations but also build institutions that generate impact and transform entire social sectors,” said González-Silén.
The ultimate goal is to propel IESA into a phase of modernity and full relevance, consolidating it as a pluralistic and rigorous space where entrepreneurs, academics, and public policy makers design the productive and prosperous Venezuela of the future.
About IESA:
The Institute of Higher Studies in Administration (IESA) is a business school that trains responsible leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs capable of contributing to the success of organizations and the development of society. It holds four international accreditations (AACSB, AMB, NASPA, and EFMD) that attest to its academic excellence on a global level.
About Andrés Simón González-Silén
A Venezuelan physician, founding partner, and CEO of Grupo Venemergencia, a conglomerate of leading organizations in the healthcare sector, particularly in Venezuela. Venemergencia, Urgent Care, and Fundación Venemergencia. Together with Dr. Luis Enrique Velásquez Díaz, he has developed a healthcare system that covers 90 cities across the country. He is disruptively transforming the sector with a care model that puts the patient and their healthcare experience at the center through constant technological innovation.
He is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a member of YPO, and a member of the IESA Board of Directors since 2018.
His purpose as a business leader is to provide Venezuelans with greater and better access to healthcare and to leave a transformative legacy that transcends generations.
