The story of the company that develops industrial parks began thirty years ago. It was that company that would become the largest and most successful in Mexico.

Sergio Argüelles Gutiérrez, a Mexican with great vision and a human quality, was a pioneer in developing the industrial real estate sector. He founded FINSA in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, developing the first industrial park, “FINSA del Norte”, where the first industrial spaces were established: Componentes Mecánicos, Delco and Rimir, divisions of General Motors.

They were so successful that they started on the park’s second phase immediately and expanded operations throughout the Mexican Republic.

“We actively promoted the country in different parts of the world, and we successfully strengthened our market and expanded opportunities for establishing new developments aimed at serving industry in general,” asserted FINSA’s Chairman of the Board.

They have never stopped growing and they currently operate 15 industrial parks in Mexico. Also, the company has a presence in south Texas, in the United States, and in Argentina.

New Currents

For FINSA’s founder, a turning point in the company’s history was in 1999 when he brought in his son Sergio Argüelles González, who is now its President and CEO. That was when the process of institutionalizing the company began, and it ceased to be strictly a family business. “With that decision, not only did we expand our horizons, we were also able to take better advantage of resources and opportunities, thereby achieving extraordinary results that are now visible.”

He added that they are more than satisfied with the past results and the ones accomplished daily in this ‘new FINSA’. “Sergio has managed to establish an exceptional work team that is committed to growing the company, with goals and objectives shared by each and every employee, regardless of his or her position.”

Argüelles Gutiérrez mentioned that a key event that integrated FINSA into the global economy was the enactment of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA’s implementation significantly increased the amount of foreign investment in Mexico.

Changing Times

“In our field of serving the industrial real estate sector, we decided in 1999 to move our corporate headquarters to Monterrey. Although that was a difficult decision, I am now convinced that it was correct, because it meant opening up new markets and becoming aware of more opportunities. That change enabled us to grow from a broader institutional platform, which, in turn, gave us an opportunity to take on more ambitious challenges”.

Sergio Argüelles Gutiérrez also pointed out that in 2000, FINSA entered into an alliance with AIG Global Real Estate, a subsidiary of American International Group AIG. “Together, the two companies achieved an extraordinary synergy which enabled that American company to enter Mexico’s real estate market through our company.”

Another enormous success for FINSA was the sale of a portfolio of one-million built square meters to Intramerica Real Estate Group (GE), the most important company in Latin America’s industrial real estate sector. “That marked the start of the ‘FINSA II’ phase, the stage in which our people take on new and great challenges every day.”

The company is in the best hands now, said Sergio Argüelles Gutiérrez. We have much to do in the future, and for FINSA the future looks very promising. “The company is well positioned at this time”, he commented, with new parks and land reserves, more spaces available in inventory, advanced construction and project management techniques, and also modern financial systems focused on real estate leasing. “We are ready and able to keep coming up with great ideas, by working hard.”

For this visionary businessman, his optimism has always figured prominently in his leadership of FINSA, as well as the fact that he has established clear objectives and ambitious goals. “I believe the best outcomes are always within arm’s reach.”

“I feel strongly that we all have something different to offer, and our success depends on our vision, so that we develop in the right place and enable our people to express their ideas. Every individual’s efforts redound to the benefit of the group. I have always learned from others. Knowing how to delegate responsibilities and doing so at the right time is certainly very valuable”.

Everything can be achieved with the simplest formula: “WORK, more work and more work” equals certain success.