Jofre Benítez

Head of Community Relationships & Sustainability

Jofre joined Hidroabanico in 2009 and currently leads community relations and sustainability initiatives across all of Barka Capital’s portfolio. 

Under his leadership, Barka Capital has invested over $4 million in education, health, and housing projects, including the Macas Water Treatment Plant, which provides clean water to over 30,000 people. These initiatives align with the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Development Goals and have earned the company the country’s main Socially Responsible Business Certification from CERES.

In addition, Jofre has spearheaded agricultural, social, and biodiversity conservation projects in rural communities near the hydroelectric plants, with an annual contribution of over $500,000.

Prior to joining Barka Capital, Jofre had a 15-year career in journalism, working with major Ecuadorian media outlets such as Expreso, El Universo, Ecuavisa, and Gamavisión. He played a key role in covering major events such as the Cenepa War and the peace process with Peru. Jofre also served as a communications advisor for the Ministry of Energy, contributing to the successful completion of the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP), the largest private infrastructure project in Ecuador’s oil industry.

Jofre holds a BA in Social Communication from Universidad Central del Ecuador, specializing in print journalism, and was awarded the National Journalism Prize by the National Union of Journalists of Ecuador in 1995.