2024/12/14

Miguel Rodríguez Mendoza – A Gentle Giant Has Left Us

It is with great sadness and grief that we note the passing of our friend and colleague Miguel Rodríguez Mendoza.

Miguel was, first and foremost, a wonderful person and a perfect gentleman, a loving father and husband, and an inspiring discussion partner to those lucky enough to spend time with him. His career in our world of trade policy was long and rich – he was among those who brought Venezuela into the GATT, served his country as a Minister, was Chief Trade Advisor at the Organization of American States and then WTO Deputy Director-General under Mike Moore. He served on multiple WTO Panels, often as chair.

We had known each other and worked together long before he joined us at WTI Advisors in 2015, not least in the context of the “Talking Disputes” event series, a joint venture of WTI Advisors and ICTSD, where he worked after leaving the WTO. His ideas, advice and gentle spirit made all those encounters, discussions, collaborations, lunches and dinners a most rewarding experience.

Miguel was a fixture in the Geneva trade community and beyond. Many sought his advice, which he provided freely, and he himself never tired of looking for new ideas and inspiration, never shied away from embracing new themes and trends.

Miguel, the great gentleman. He will be sorely missed.

 

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