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| In response, Banco Banesco and Derwick Associates claim that the accusations in both lawsuits are false.<ref>{{es}} {{cite web|url=http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/nacionales/banesco-y-derwick-associates-desmiente-vinculacion-diosdado-cabello/|title=Banesco y Derwick Associates desmiente vinculación con Diosdado Cabello|author='']''|accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{es}} {{cite web|url=http://www.vtv.gob.ve/articulos/2014/03/29/desmienten-supuesto-soborno-al-presidente-del-parlamento-venezolano-diosdado-cabello-6491.html|title=Desmienten supuesto soborno al presidente del Parlamento venezolano, Diosdado Cabello|author=Venezolana de Televisión|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{es}} {{cite web|url=http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2014/03/29/1713389/banesco-desmiente-el-pago-de-50.html|title=Banesco desmiente el pago de $50 millones a Cabello a través de ese banco|author='']''|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref> | In response, Banco Banesco and Derwick Associates claim that the accusations in both lawsuits are false.<ref>{{es}} {{cite web|url=http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/nacionales/banesco-y-derwick-associates-desmiente-vinculacion-diosdado-cabello/|title=Banesco y Derwick Associates desmiente vinculación con Diosdado Cabello|author='']''|accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{es}} {{cite web|url=http://www.vtv.gob.ve/articulos/2014/03/29/desmienten-supuesto-soborno-al-presidente-del-parlamento-venezolano-diosdado-cabello-6491.html|title=Desmienten supuesto soborno al presidente del Parlamento venezolano, Diosdado Cabello|author=Venezolana de Televisión|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{es}} {{cite web|url=http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2014/03/29/1713389/banesco-desmiente-el-pago-de-50.html|title=Banesco desmiente el pago de $50 millones a Cabello a través de ese banco|author='']''|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref> | ||
| Criminal investigations were recently launched by the United States Justice Departments and New York City banking regulators into Derwick's activities, along with those of Betancourt. The investigators are probing into the price difference between what Derwick paid to ] for its contract services and what Derwick was ultimately paid by the Venezuelan government. In addition, authorities are investigating potential concealment of bribes and banking violations. The investigations are still in the preliminary stages and it is unclear if criminal charges will ultimately be brought against Betancourt, who has claimed these allegations are false and that he is willing to cooperate with authorities.<ref name="investigations">{{cite web | url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/venezuelan-energy-company-derwick-investigated-in-u-s-1407516278 | title=Venezuelan Energy Company Investigated in U.S. | work=Wall Street Journal | date=8 August 2014 | accessdate=8 August 2014 | author=Cordoba, Jose; Mathews, Christopher}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:04, 8 August 2014
| Alejandro Betancourt López | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980 Caracas, Venezuela |
| Alma mater | Suffolk University of Massachusetts |
| Occupation(s) | Chairman and CEO of Derwick Associates |
| Spouse |
Andreína Rojas (m. 2012) |
| Website | Personal website |
Alejandro Betancourt López (born 1980, Caracas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan businessman. He serves as Chairman and CEO of Derwick Associates, an engineering, procurement and construction company.
Biography
He belongs to a wealthy and well-known family of Caracas , linked to the local oligarchy that dates back to his great grandfather, Hermógenes López, as 22nd president of the Republic of Venezuela. President López was one of the persons responsible for bringing electricity to Valencia, at the time the most important state of Venezuela.
He is co-founder, along with Pedro Trebbau López, of Derwick Associates Corp., a Venezuelan company dedicated to the energy sector. He has also co-founded eponymous companies in Panama, the United States, Spain, and Barbados.
Betancourt has a double major in Economics and Business Administration from the Suffolk University of Massachusetts, United States. He started his career in a company specializing in the energy sector and in the exploration, production and trade oil and its derivatives, with presence in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, South America and Africa. He has served as business manager for Latin America. He later worked in Guruceaga Group, a company dedicated to international trade in goods, finance, real estate and farm, of which he was manager of new business; and BGB Energy, a company that was responsible for representing, in joint venture with the old GESCA GAS in Venezuela, international corporation Kawasaki Heavy Industries. As chief executive of BGB Energy, he participated in the Proyecto de interconexión Centro Occidente (ICO) of Venezuela. And also in a workshop planning for packaging related to power generation equipment.
Derwick
Since it started operations in 2003, the company has obtained eleven contracts for the construction of power plants in Venezuela; five contracts awarded by Electricidad de Caracas (to join Corpoelec in December 2011), five Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA negotiated with Bariven, a PDVSA division), and one by Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG).
In January 2014, the business section of the Spanish daily ABC published an interview in which Alejandro Betancourt explained his strategy of turning Derwick into a major technology provider for Latin America.
Awards
In December 2013, Betancourt received the award issued by the Spanish magazine Capital for the "best technological initiative in Latin-America". The award recognized the construction of Derwick's TTC (Turbine Technology Center), which is located in an industrial area of Guácara, Carabobo State in Venezuela, measuring 10.000m2, with garages, offices and a training facility.
Controversies and legal disputes
In 2013, several media, including The Wall Street Journal and The Huffington Post reported that Betancourt was being sued in the New York Federal Court by Washington businessman Otto Reich who alleged that Derwick Associates executives (including Betancourt) defamed him and caused his own consulting business to suffer financial losses. Reich claimed Derwick paid bribes for every contract received from the Venezuelan government. The applicant considered that the alleged offense may be punishable under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
In a separate legal action, Thor Leonardo Halvorssen Mendoza, a human rights lawyer, alleged defamation and sued Derwick and Betancourt. Halvorssen also claimed they paid a $50,000,000 bribe to Diosdado Cabello, Speaker of the House of the Venezuelan National Assembly.
In response, Banco Banesco and Derwick Associates claim that the accusations in both lawsuits are false.
Criminal investigations were recently launched by the United States Justice Departments and New York City banking regulators into Derwick's activities, along with those of Betancourt. The investigators are probing into the price difference between what Derwick paid to ProEnergy Services for its contract services and what Derwick was ultimately paid by the Venezuelan government. In addition, authorities are investigating potential concealment of bribes and banking violations. The investigations are still in the preliminary stages and it is unclear if criminal charges will ultimately be brought against Betancourt, who has claimed these allegations are false and that he is willing to cooperate with authorities.
References
- ^ Template:Es "Alejandro Betancourt: «Venezuela tiene mucho potencial si la entiendes»", ABC January 17, 2014. ABC. Accessed 13 July 2014.
- Template:Es "Breve historia del sistema eléctrico venezolano". VIQUEIRA LANDA, Jacinto. (1975). Redes Eléctricas.
- Armengol, Luis. "Venezuela tendrá uno de los centros más innovadores de América del sur". Innovaspain. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- "Proyecto Interconexión Centro Occidente (ICO)". PDVSA. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- "Kawasaki cree en Venezuela". Portafolio de Inversiones.
- "Derwick gana el Premio "Capital" a la Mejor Iniciativa Empresarial Latinoamericana". Qué!. Grupo Gestiona. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- "Former US ambassador to Venezuela files bribe suit." – Wall Street Journal report on Otto Reich allegations. Wall Street Journal. Accessed 4 April 2014.
- "Otto Reich, Former US Ambassador To Venezuela, Files Bribe Suit Against Executives At Derwick Associates." The Huffington Post. Accessed 4 April 2014.
- "Suit Alleges Graft in Venezuelan Contracts." – Wall Street Journal report on New York lawsuit against Derwick Associates and Betancourt. Wall Street Journal. Accessed 4 April 2014.
- Otto Reich’s original lawsuit..
- "Thor Leonardo Halvorssen Mendoza sues Derwick, alleging corruption." Miami Herald. Accessed 4 April 2014.
- Template:Es Correo del Orinoco. "Banesco y Derwick Associates desmiente vinculación con Diosdado Cabello". Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- Template:Es Venezolana de Televisión. "Desmienten supuesto soborno al presidente del Parlamento venezolano, Diosdado Cabello". Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- Template:Es El Nuevo Herald. "Banesco desmiente el pago de $50 millones a Cabello a través de ese banco". Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- Cordoba, Jose; Mathews, Christopher (8 August 2014). "Venezuelan Energy Company Investigated in U.S." Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
- Derwick Associates website; accessed 2 April 2014.
- Alejandro Betancourt official website; accessed 2 April 2014.