Daniel Servitje, Grupo Bimbo CEO, today became the first non-U.S. executive to receive the prestigious International Executive of the Year Award from the Chicago Executives’ Club, an organization founded in 1911 that brings together the most important business leaders, academics, government officials, diplomats and philanthropists.

The award was established in 1995 to recognize business leaders who have made exceptional contributions to the global business community. Past recipients have included the chairman and CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates and the chairman and CEO of IBM Corporation Samuel J. Palmisano.

During the awards ceremony Mr. Servitje discussed the sustained growth of the Bimbo, Marinela and Barcel brands in the United States. These brands serve mainly Mexican and Latino consumers living in the United States and are currently expanding to serve consumers in other markets. Mr. Servitje noted that the brands were first introduced to the U.S. market in Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston and are now expanding nationwide.

This success lead Grupo Bimbo to increase the presence of its U.S. operations which have tripled in size in the last five years.

Ilene Gordon, the Chicago Executives’ Club Chairman, notes that Mr. Servitje is the first foreign businessperson to receive this prestigious award. “Daniel Servitje is a true global leader; hence, we are very pleased to give him this well-deserved acknowledgement”, said Gordon.