José Luis Manzano
He is a doctor from Mendoza. However, he has worked in politics since a young age. He was a congressman for Partido Justicialista (1983–1989) and Minister of the Interior during Carlos Menem’s administration (1989–1992).
He is a symbol of the privatization policies implemented by the Argentinian Government in the 1990s and a symbol of the corruption of that period. He coined the sentence: “I steal for the Crown” (or for the president). His statement became the title of the book written by journalist and researcher Horacio Verbitsky, a bestseller in Latin America.
Amidst several corruption claims against him, Manzano fled to the United States, where he worked as business manager of Jorge Mas Canosa, a Cuban businessman and owner of Spanish capital company Mastec, one of largest tech companies in the world. He returned to Argentina in 1996 bringing with him Mas Canosa’s funds. He partnered with Mendoza businessman Daniel Vila to create Grupo Uno, which purchased around 25 media in the interior of Argentina between 1995 and 1997.
Also key to the group’s meteoric expansion were the ties with banker Raúl Moneta. Years later, Manzano and his partners, Vila and Moneta, were investigated for money laundering and evading taxes worth $400 million.
In 2002 Grupo Uno merged its TV businesses with those of businessman Carlos Ávila. The group began to operate in Buenos Aires through América TV, the holding’s main company, which currently owns 40 media.
As the political lobbyist of the group, during the Kirchner’s administrations and Macri's term in office, Manzano focused on growing his business and those of Vila in the oil sector. Phoenix Global Resources, whose shareholders also include multinational company Mercuria, is carrying out oil exploration, drilling and production operations in Mendoza and Patagonia, in partnership with State oil company, YPF. Vila and Manzano also hold stock in Metrogas, a natural gas distribution company in Argentina, and Pamar S.A., a leading gas pipeline construction company locally and abroad.
Business
Advertising
Metrópoli Publicidad Exterior S.A. (Santa Fe)
Metrópoli Publicidad Exterior S.A.
Oil
Ketal S.A.
Kilwer S.A.
Energy
Inversora andina de electricidad S.A.
Integra Recursos Naturales Minerales S.A.
Andes Recursos Naturales S.A.
Grecoil y CIA S.A.
Gas
Integra Consultores y Servicios S.A.
Construction
Pamar S.A.
Farming
Integra Agrícola Ganadera y Servicios Portuarios S.A.
Wine growing
Bodega Altus (Mendoza)
Finca Los Algarrobos (San Juan)
Gastronomy
La Tupiña Restaurante (Mendoza)