COFECE closes probe for possible collusion in the market for watthour meters and emphasizes opportunities for improvement in public procurement processes

Alejandra Palacios Prieto

Alejandra Palacios

Chairwoman

Presidency

First term 2013 – 2017
Second term 2017 – 2021

Commissioner

2013-2022

apalacios@cofece.mx

Professional Experience:

Director of Public Governance at the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (2007-2013).
Lecturer at ITAM (2002-2008).
Academic Coordinator at ITAM’s Economics Department (2005-2006).
Consultant for the Federal Telecommunications Commission (COFETEL) (2011)

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Mexico.
Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE).
Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), ITAM.

Alejandra Palacios, Chair of Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission (Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica; COFECE) is the first woman to head the Mexican antitrust authority. Following a major constitutional reform that set forth a new framework for competition in Mexico, Alejandra was appointed by Congress in 2013 to head the COFECE. She was reelected in 2017 for a second four-year tenure that will end in September 2021.

Before her current role at COFECE, Alejandra worked as Project Director at the Mexican Institute of Competitiveness (the Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad; IMCO) for research projects focused on economic regulation, telecom, public procurement and other issues related to competition.

Since June 2016, she is Vice-President for the International Competition Network (ICN), the most prominent international network on competition, composed of 138 competition authorities around the world, and as of 2017, Member of the Bureau of the Competition Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Alejandra is also a member of the International Women’s Forum, Mexico chapter. In 2019 the Women@Competition organization included her in its list of “40 in their 40s” as one of the 40 most notable women in competition in the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Alejandra holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics, as well as an MBA from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). She completed a second master’s degree in public policy at the Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE).

Her academic work includes teaching as well as serving as the Academic Coordinator for the ITAM Economics faculty.

Interviews

Interviews with Alejandra Palacios Prieto*

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Jesús Ignacio
Navarro Zermeño

Jesús Navarro

Commissioner

2013-2020
inavarro@cofece.mx

Professional Experience:

Under-Secretary for Industry and Trade at the Mexican Ministry of Economy (2012-2013).
Administrative and Finance Director at Afore XXI-Banorte (2010-2012).
General Director for Privatization and Bidding Processes at the Federal Competition Commission (2007-2010).
Director of Economic and Social Benefits at the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS) (2005-2007).
Treasury Coordinator at IMSS (2005).
Consultant partner at Solución en Regulaciones y Mercados, S.C., (2001-2005).
General Coordinator for Mining at the Ministry of Economy (1999-2000).
Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Economy (1998-1999).
General Director for Industrial Promotion at the Ministry of Economy (1995-1997).
Faculty at ITESM (1982).

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico.
Master’s degree in Economics, Colegio de México (COLMEX), Mexico.
PhD in Economics, the University of Chicago, United States.

Interviews with Jesús Ignacio Navarro Zermeño* (available in Spanish)

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Eduardo Martínez Chombo

Eduardo Martínez

Commissioner

2013-2021
emartinez@cofece.mx

Professional Experience:

General Director for Proposed Resolutions at the extinct Federal Telecommunications Commission (COFETEL) (2009-2013).
Visiting lecturer at Escuela Superior de Economía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) (2012-2013).
Specialist economic researcher for the Mexican Central Bank (2008-2009).
Lecturer at COLMEX (2003-2009).
Economist at the Mexican Central Bank (1991-2008).

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico.
Master’s degree in Economics, Colegio de México (COLMEX), Mexico.
Master’s degree in Economics, Rice University, Texas, USA.
PhD in Economics, Rice University, Texas, USA.

Interviews with Eduardo Martínez Chombo* (available in Spanish)

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

José Eduardo Mendoza Contreras

Commissioner

2018-2027
jmendoza@cofece.mx

Professional Experience:

Head of the Competition and Public Policy Unit for Market Efficiency (Ministry of Economy) (2015 – 2018).
General Director for Market Investigations (COFECE) (2013 – 2014).
Advisor to Commissioners: Adalberto García Rocha, Luis Alberto Ibarra Pardo and Alejandro Castañeda (CFC-COFECE) (2007-2013).

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico.
Master’s degree in Economics, Colegio de México (COLMEX), Mexico.
Master’s degree in Economics, Boston University (United States).
PhD in Economics, University of Surrey (United Kingdom).

Interviews with José Eduardo Mendoza Contreras* (available in Spanish)*

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Brenda Gisela
Hernández Ramírez

Brenda Hernández

Commissioner

2016-2025
bhernandez@cofece.mx

Professional Experience:

Department Head, Deputy Director, Area Director and Deputy General Director at the Federal Economic Competition Commission’s (CFC) General Department of Legal Affairs (2000 – 2008).
Advisor to CFC Commissioner Rodrigo Morales Elcoro (2008 – 2013).
Advisor to COFECE Commissioner Francisco Javier Núñez Melgoza (2013).
Assistant General Director of the Economic Competition Unit at the Federal Telecommunications Institute (2014).
General Director at the Investigative Authorities’ Office for Coordination, COFECE (2014-2016).

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Escuela Libre de Derecho, Mexico.
Master’s degree in International Law, Università di Bologna, Italy.

Interviews Brenda Gisela Hernández Ramírez* (available in Spanish)

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Alejandro Faya Rodríguez

Alejandro Faya

Commissioner

2017-2026
afaya@cofece.mx

Professional Experience:

Deputy General Director for International Affairs, Senior Legal Adviser, General Director for Foreign Investment and Head of Unit for Design and Implementation of Public Policies for Productivity, at the Ministry of Economy (2004-2009) (2011-2014).
Consultant for the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (2009-2011).
Head of COFECE’s Planning, Institutional Relations and International Affairs Unit (2014-2017).
Professor at Universidad Iberoamericana, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE), Mexico.
Columnist for the Business Section of the Mexican newspaper, Reforma.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico.
Magister Juris, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Certification in Commercial Contracts and Businesses, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico.
Certification in International Public and Private Law, The Hague Academy of International Law, Netherlands.

Interviews with Alejandro Faya Rodríguez* (available in Spanish)*

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Martín Moguel Gloria

Martín Moguel

Commissioner

2013-2019
mmoguel@cofece.mx

Professional Experience:

Partner at De la Torre, Rodríguez, Leroux y Moguel (2012-2013).
Partner at LTFT (2008-2012).
General Director of Legal Affairs at the Federal Competition Commission (2001-2008).
Deputy Director General of Legal Affairs at the Federal Competition Commission (2000-2001).
Director of Legal Affairs at the Federal Competition Commission (1996-2000).
Lecturer at Universidad La Salle, Universidad Panamericana and Universidad Anahuac.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Law, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico.
Master’s degree in International Economic Law from Warwick University, United Kingdom.

Interviews with Martín Moguel Gloria*

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Benjamín Contreras Astiazarán

Benjamín Contreras

Comisionado

2013-2018
bcontreras@cofece.mx

Experiencia Profesional

Director General de Estudios Económicos de la Comisión Federal de Competencia (CFC) (2011-2013).
Subsecretario de Electricidad en la Secretaría de Energía (SENER) (2007-2011).
Asesor del Secretario en la SENER (2006-2007).
Coordinador General de Mejora Regulatoria Sectorial en la Comisión Federal de Mejora Regulatoria (COFEMER) (2000-2006).
Director General de Estudios Económicos en la Unidad de Desregulación Económica (SECOFI) (1995-2000).
Director General de Análisis Económico y Financiero de la Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE) (1994-1995).
Profesor en el ITAM y en la Universidad Iberoamericana, impartió las asignaturas Economía, Política Económica y Regulación.

Estudios

Licenciado en Economía por el Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).
Maestro en Economía por la Universidad de Texas A&M.
Doctor en Economía por la Universidad de Texas A&M.

Entrevistas con el Comisionado Benjamín Contreras Astiazarán*

* Esta sección hace referencia a aquellas entrevistas en las que los Comisionados podrán tratar asuntos de su competencia con personas que representan los intereses de los Agentes Económicos contempladas en el artículo 25 de la Ley Federal de Competencia Económica (LFCE).

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Current consultations and calls

Alejandra Palacios Prieto

Chairwoman

Presidency

Commissioner

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Jesús Ignacio
Navarro Zermeño

Commissioner

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Eduardo Martínez Chombo

Commissioner

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

José Eduardo Mendoza Contreras

Commissioner

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Brenda Gisela
Hernández Ramírez

Commissioner

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Alejandro Faya Rodríguez

Commissioner

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Martín Moguel Gloria

Commissioner

*This section refers to those interviews which, in compliance with Article 25 of the FECL, the Commissioners discuss matters of their responsibility with the individuals that represent the interests of Economic Agents.

Benjamín Contreras Astiazarán

Comisionado

* Esta sección hace referencia a aquellas entrevistas en las que los Comisionados podrán tratar asuntos de su competencia con personas que representan los intereses de los Agentes Económicos contempladas en el artículo 25 de la Ley Federal de Competencia Económica (LFCE).