Luz Stella Murgas won the presidency of Colombia’s powerful business federation Andi on November 10.
A waiter entered the room with a paper shredder, destroying the ballots cast by the Andi board of directors without a public count. A small commission appointed by board president Rodolfo Castillo conducted the tally in a separate office and announced only the winning name.
The process followed a selection committee vote on October 29 at the Club El Nogal in Bogotá, where 12 members voted for Juan Camilo Nariño and two voted for Murgas. Four sources told La Silla Vacía that the election featured government pressures from the administration of President Abelardo de la Espriella.
The election concluded a search process that began after former president Bruce Mac Master resigned. Mac Master stepped down following a dispute with the De la Espriella administration, which ordered officials to cut ties with Andi. For the first time, the board hired a headhunter, Roberto Hall of Heidrick & Struggles, to evaluate candidates based on their alignment with the government.
Andi Board Votes for Murgas Over Nariño
The selection committee narrowed the final shortlist to Murgas, Nariño, and Carlos de Hardt. Despite the committee’s initial preliminary vote favoring Nariño 12 to two, board member Jaime Murra requested a delay to allow in-person presentations. When the full board met on November 10, Murgas and Nariño delivered brief presentations before Castillo declared the vote secret.
Castillo appointed Emilia Restrepo, Raimundo Emiliani, and Manuel Santiago Mejía to a three-member counting commission. The commission returned with the announcement that Murgas secured the position, making her the first woman to lead the federation. Presidente De la Espriella celebró la designación y Luz Stella Murgas recibió felicitaciones por su elección.
Suárez wrote on social media, “La independencia no es incompatible con romper lo de SIEMPRE para construir lo que NUNca se había intentado: un nuevo orden de la mano del ciudadano. Felicitaciones Luz Stella, según lo señalado.”
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First Meeting Between Murgas and De la Espriella
Two days after her appointment, Murgas met with President De la Espriella aboard the presidential aircraft to discuss industrial collaboration.
President De la Espriella said, “Estoy feliz de que en la Andi tengamos a una mujer como presidente de la calidad humana, de las condiciones intelectuales y de la trayectoria de Luz Estela Murgas. Bienvenida y muchas gracias por todo lo que hace. Estoy seguro que de su mano, junto al GobiernoNacional y con los industriales, vamos a sacar este país adelante,” reported LaRepublica.co.
Murgas told Portafolio and Caracol Radio, “Los desafíos del país necesitan que sumemos esfuerzos, que construyamos juntos y aquí está el sector empresarial listo para seguir contribuyendo a resolverle las necesidades que verdaderamente tienen los colombianos.” She emphasized that industrial growth and state resources must advance simultaneously.
Economic Policy Challenges Ahead for Murgas
The new federation president faces an immediate legislative agenda involving the government’s tax and spending reform package in Congress. Murgas must also participate in upcoming negotiations for the 2027 minimum wage alongside government officials and labor unions, operating amid an inflation rate that reached 6.30% in October, according to Diario La República.
Portafolio said that declining exploratory drilling—dropping from roughly 130 exploratory wells in 2020 to about 33 at the close of 2025—forced the nation to import natural gas, presenting another structural hurdle for domestic industries.
Who Were the Finalists for the Andi Presidency?
Who were the finalists for the Andi presidency?
The final shortlist included Luz Stella Murgas, Juan Camilo Nariño, and Carlos de Hardt. The selection committee reviewed these candidates during a meeting at the Club El Nogal in Bogotá on October 29.
What role did the headhunter play in the selection?
Hall de la firm Heidrick & Struggles managed an initial longlist and evaluated candidates according to their perceived alignment with the government of President Abelardo de la Espriella.
Who served on the board counting commission?
Castillo selected Emilia Restrepo, Raimundo Emiliani, and Manuel Santiago Mejía to serve on the counting commission that tabulated the secret ballots on November 10.
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