Who are Monterrey Owners? A Detailed Look Into Monterrey Ownership History & Current Leadership

Mexico, post World War II, decided to indulge in simpler pastime activities for peace of mind. This mentality led to the foundation of Monterrey Football Club with the influence of some industrial businessmen like Ramón Cárdenas Coronado, Enrique Ayala Medina, Paul C. Probert, Rogelio Cantú Gómez, and Miguel Margáín Zozaya. Monterrey FC, nicknamed “Rayados” for their traditional navy-blue striped jersey, was established on 28 June 1945.

Ownership of CF Monterrey remained precarious initially, changing hands from one private company to other. However, the culmination of this instability showed its ugly face in the 1990s when banker Jorge Lankenau was in charge. Lankenau was the founder and president of Grupo Financiero Abaco, one of the most important financial institutions in Mexico. Lankenau was a dedicated individual and philanthropist who put the Monterrey football club on the map through his connections, bringing in sponsorship deals. However, his reputation was tarnished after Lankenau was accused of tax evasion and fraud. Subsequently, Monterrey faced a financial collapse and Mexico's tax authority took over the club's operation. Despite the controversial event, Lankenau is regarded as a hero among all Monterrey owners for his early assistance.

Who are Monterrey Owners?

Monterrey FC is currently owned by one of the biggest corporations in Latin America, FEMSA, which stands for Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV. The company initially began as a major brewery named Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc, with its headquarters located in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It was popular for beverages, retail, Heineken stake holding, Logistics, and healthcare, among other ventures. The publicly traded company is the brainchild of philanthropist and CEO Jose Antonio Fernandez Carbajal, endearingly known as “El Diablo.”
FEMSA was the savior of the sinking Monterrey ship during its financial and sporting crisis in the 1990s, which ended with the Mexican SHCP taking control of the club. After taking over the administrative power of the club in 1999, FEMSA later became the sole owner of Monterrey FC. The intentions behind FEMSA's endeavor in this transition cannot be questioned, as the club had to clear a debt of about 734 million pesos. The company also helped modernize the Mexican club's infrastructure by building El Barrial Training Complex in 2006 and Monterrey home ground, Estadio BBVA, in 2015.

Monterrey Owners Personnel

If we talk about Monterrey owners, the FEMSA board features 15 directors to maintain Mexican corporate law, where 25% of the members need to be independent. This group governs FEMSA, its policy making and all of its other enterprises. Jose Antonio Fernandez Carbajal is the architect of the Monterrey football club owner board, executing FEMSA's vision since 2001, and Olga Gonzalez and Michael Larson are the independent members.

Monterrey Owners Primary Business

FEMSA was a dominant brand in Mexico even before it took ownership of Monterrey, having already participated in several successful ventures. Monterrey owners were primarily involved in the manufacturing of Coca-Cola bottles in Mexico, though their products are popular all across Latin America. Another venture of FEMSA, the Comercio offers commercial and retail services for commodities through its Fuel Division and Health Division. Their OXXO venture has become the largest convenience store chain in Latin America. They indulge in Logistics programs through Spin Premia.

FEMSA also owns the Estadio BBVA, the home ground of Monterrey, which cost the company $200 million in 2015. This one-time investment in the Monterrey stadium is a perennial revenue stream for the company through matchday ticket sales, events, naming rights, brand deals, and sponsorships. The football club is a passion project for Monterrey FC owners, but it has also helped FEMSA build a good public profile.

Monterrey Owners Net Worth

FEMSA has converted itself into a diversified brand partaking in multiple ventures all over Latin America. They have been awarded the title of Mexico's Best Employers in 2022 in the food, soft beverages, alcohol & tobacco sector. The company has generated a revenue of $42.7B, with assets worth $41B while making a net profit of $1.5B from its transactions, which no doubt increased CF Monterrey owners net worth.

Monterrey Owners History: From Past to Present

The origins of CF Monterrey are significantly humble compared to their current ties. Starting from Jorge Lankenau, Monterrey football club ownership was decentralized amongst various business owners who have backed it financially at different stages. The current owners, FEMSA, finally appeared on the scene and instantly won over the Monterrey fans by paying off the 734 million peso loan. FEMSA had long-term plans with the club and has succeeded in revamping the club's infrastructure over the years.