Alfonso Romo Garza (born October 8, 1950) is a Mexican businessman and politician who served as the Chief of Staff to the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, from December 2018 to December 2020.
Early Life and Education Born in Mexico City, Romo is a descendant of Francisco I. Madero, a key figure in the Mexican Revolution. He earned a degree in agricultural engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM).
Business Career Romo's career in the private sector has spanned several decades, focusing primarily on agro-technology, financial services, and synthetic biology. He is the founder and chairman of Grupo Plenus, a conglomerate that manages diverse interests in the agribusiness, engineering, and education sectors.
In the 1990s, he led the expansion of Seminis, which grew to become a prominent global producer of fruit and vegetable seeds. He also founded Vector Casa de Bolsa, one of the largest independent brokerage firms in Mexico. His business activities have often focused on integrating technological innovation with traditional industries.
Political Involvement Romo gained significant political visibility as a key liaison between the Mexican business community and the left-leaning politician Andrés Manuel López Obrador. During the 2018 presidential campaign, Romo served as the coordinator of the "Nation Project" (Proyecto de Nación), the strategic plan outlining the candidate's policy goals.
Upon López Obrador’s inauguration in December 2018, Romo was appointed Head of the Office of the Presidency. In this role, he was tasked with coordinating public policy and fostering communication with domestic and international investors. He resigned from the position on December 2, 2020, to return to the private sector, though he maintained a role as an external advisor and liaison for the President regarding the business sector.