Slim, Carlos   Chairman of Telefonos de Mexico, and other Enterprises

BY DANIEL DOMBEY

In 1996 Carlos Slim, 57, prepared to survive the onslaught of foreign telecommunications competition in Mexico. This year many of those invaders, especially from the U.S., may learn whether they can survive Carlos Slim.

The biggest shareholder as well as chairman of Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex), Mexico's no-longer-monopoly telephone company, Slim is planning to challenge American giants like AT&T and MCI on their home turf in 1997. The stakes: a bigger share in the $2.5 billion U.S.-Mexico long-distance market. "Our focus is toward Hispanic users in the U.S.," he says. The notion of taking on mammoth American firms is in keeping with the ambitions of multibillionaire Slim, widely assumed to be Mexico's richest man. His Grupo Carso holding company was already worth $1.2 billion in sales in 1990 when, along with Southwestern Bell and France Telecom, he bought 20% of stodgy, state-owned Telmex for $1.8 billion.

Telmex is now a $17 billion enterprise, and Slim is looking further afield in more ways than one. His main strategic objective is to diversify the company away from ordinary telephone services and into data transmission, videoconferencing and the Internet. "Long-distance communications are old news," he told TIME.

Slim's expansiveness inspires cynicism in his many Mexican critics. His Telmex purchase was condemned by many nationalists as evidence of his cronyism with then President Carlos Salinas de Gortari; one political party filed suit against Slim, saying he paid an artificially low price for his share, a charge he firmly denies.

The son of Lebanese emigrants, Slim first built a stake as a stockbroker in the 1960s before moving into insurance. His big opportunity came during Mexico's economic collapse of the early 1980s, when he snapped up cigarette manufacturer Cigatam, as well as Sanborns, the cafe and convenience-store chain, and Frisco, a mining company. Through Grupo Carso, Slim now controls 30 companies worth more than $7.2 billion. Critics aside, he is considered to be a passionate Mexican nationalist--and a fierce competitor. Yanquis, take note.

More Slim in this book

Sununu, John E.   United States Congressman

John E. Sununu, 33, as elected in New Hampshire to serve as their Republican Representative in the 105th U.S. Congress.

A native of Salem, New Hampshire, John is one of eight children. He attended public schools and is a graduate of Salem High School. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

He has utilized his engineering and business background in the private sector beginning in 1987 as design engineer for Remec, Inc., manufacturer of microwave electronics. From 1990 to 1992, he served as manager and operations specialist for high-tech companies with Pittiglio, Rabin, Todd & McGrath. From 1992 to 1996, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations for Teletrol Systems Inc., a manufacturer of building automation systems in Manchester, NH. Most recently, John worked as a consultant for JHS Associates, Ltd.

John has been an active member of the the New Hampshire High Tech Council, and the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association.

A resident of Bedford, John and his wife Kitty have two young children, John Hayes, age four, and Grace, age two.

More Sununu in this book

Tanous, Peter J.   President, Lynx Investment Advisory, Inc.

Lynx Investment Advisory, Inc., is an investment advisory firm providing consulting services to institutions and individuals in the selection and monitoring of money managers.

Peter J. Tanous has served as Executive Vice President and Director of Bank Audi (USA). Prior to joining Bank Audi, he was Chairman of Petra Capital Corporation, an international investment bank which he co-founded. Previous, he was First Vice President and International Regional Director of Smith Barney, Harris Upham' Company, Inc. During his fifteen years with the firm, he also managed its Paris office, and served as a member of the Executive Committee of Smith Barney, Harris Upham International.

His other affiliations include: An appointment by the Secretary to the Treasury to the Business Dialogue of the U.S. - Saudi Arabian Joint Economic Commission, member of the Board of Advisors, Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences and Trustee of the Browning School, New York. Mr. Tanous received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Georgetown University.

In 1991, Mr. Tanous was the recipient of the American Task Force for Lebanon Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service, whose prior recipients have included Senator George Mitchell, Governor John Sununu, and Senator Bob Dole. In 1994, he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Mr. Tanous has written several articles on the securities industry which have appeared in French and English publications. In addition, he has authored and co-authored three novels which have been translated into several foreign languages.

More Tanous in this book

Thomas, Danny   American Entertainer

Born Muzyad Yakhoob, January 6, 1912, in Deerfield, Michigan, the future Danny Thomas was the fifth of nine children of Lebanese immigrants. Danny began his career as one-half of a teenage burlesque team with his brother Ray. When Ray left show business to pursue a more traditional life, Danny became a radio actor and singer in Detroit.

During this early period of his career, Danny married Rose Marie Cassaniti. When she became pregnant with their oldest child, Marlo, Danny was still a struggling entertainer. Wondering if he could support a family with a career in show business, a troubled Danny visited a church in Detroit and prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. "Show me my way in life and I will build you a shrine" is what he asked of St. Jude. A few weeks later, Danny landed a regular job at a Chicago nightclub.

Danny never forgot his promise to St. Jude Thaddeus. Although he was very successful in Hollywood, St. Jude Hospital will undoubtedly serve as his most lasting legacy. It is the world's premier institution for the study and treatment of catastrophic childhood diseases. When St. Jude Hospital opened its doors in 1962, the most common form of pediatric cancer, acute lymphocytic leukemia, was a virtual death sentence. Less than 5 percent of children with the disease survived. Today, largely because of discoveries made at St. Jude, more than 70 percent of children diagnosed with this form of leukemia survive. For his work in building St. Jude Hospital, Danny Thomas was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the highest civilian award given by Congress.

"Danny Thomas was a twentieth century success story," said Michael Cascio, vice president documentary programming, A&E. "Few fans know that he was as important a producer as he was an actor, let alone his dedication to establishing St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. How he attained so much from such humble roots is an aspiring story of sheer talent and determination."

More Thomas in this book

Thomas, Helen   UPI White House News Bureau Chief

Helen Thomas has spent the past 50 years covering the White House and providing a unique insight into the power and politics of the United States presidency.

Helen is considered by the World Almanac to be one of the 25 most influential women in America today.

More Thomas in this book

Previous Gold Archive Page

Copyright © 1998 . Raymond Maurice K. H. Dib - New York. No reproduction is allowed without the expressed approval of the producer.

Visitor - Last Update:

---

E-MAIL Inquiries to Raymond Maurice K. H. Dib