A degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1944 provided the technical foundation for the early career of Miguel Facussé Barjum. Initially finding work in Costa Rica by repurposing wartime aircraft into commercial cargo haulers, he eventually returned to his native Honduras to cultivate a diverse industrial portfolio spanning consumer goods, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Founding Corporación Dinant
In July 1960, Facussé established Químicas Dinant de Centroamérica SA in Tegucigalpa to produce soaps and detergents. By the late 1960s, he secured production and distribution contracts with Procter & Gamble for Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. His manufacturing capabilities expanded significantly during the 1970s, bolstered by credit from the Corporación Nacional de Inversiones, which sought to support domestic industrial import substitution.
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Beyond his industrial interests, Facussé maintained a central role in national politics and business leadership. He served as the chief economic advisor to President Roberto Suazo Córdova from 1982 to 1986. Simultaneously, he was a vice-president of APROH, a group representing business and military figures, from 1983 through at least 2001. His political connections were broad, including his nephew, former Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores.
Divestments and Expansion
The 1990s and 2000s marked a period of major asset sales and consolidation. Facussé sold his Cressida Corporation to Unilever in 2000 for $322 million. By 2011, his Corporación Dinant controlled over 22,000 acres of palm plantations in the Bajo Aguán region. His business tenure faced intense scrutiny regarding land disputes and security practices, leading to the withdrawal of certain international loans and carbon credit agreements, though the company consistently denied allegations of human rights violations.
Awards and Legacy
Facussé received several accolades late in his life for his influence on regional commerce. In 2009, the Senate of Colombia awarded him the Orden Mérito a la Democracia en el Grado de Gran Caballero. In 2014, the CEAL Founders' Award recognized his work in promoting business ties between Latin American nations. He died in his birthplace of Tegucigalpa in 2015 at age 91.
Fast facts
- Born: 1924, Tegucigalpa
- Died: 2015, Tegucigalpa
- Education: University of Notre Dame
- Primary Enterprise: Corporación Dinant
- Political Role: Economic advisor to President Roberto Suazo Córdova
- Major Sale: Cressida Corporation sold to Unilever for $322m
- Awards: Orden Mérito a la Democracia, CEAL Founders' Award
Questions readers ask
What was the core business of Corporación Dinant?
It was a manufacturing company focused on consumer products, specifically soaps, detergents, and later, palm oil production.
Did Facussé hold political office?
He served as a chief economic advisor to the president of Honduras but was primarily an entrepreneur and business leader.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Notre Dame