Ignacio Cousiño
Ignacio Cousiño Aragón (28 December 1915 – Santiago, 4 June 2008) was a Chilean businessman, trade association leader, and politician.
He served as Minister of Labour during the second administration of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo from 1954 to 1955.
Early life
Cousiño was born in Santiago, Chile, on 28 December 1915, the son of José Manuel Cousiño Ortúzar and Elcira Aragón Soza. He married Eliana Echeverría del Campo in 1940, with whom he had five daughters.
Political career
Cousiño began working at the Banco de Chile in 1935 and later headed the real-estate section of its trust division. In this capacity, he was involved in property development in Providencia, Las Condes, and Vitacura. He remained with the bank until 1963.
In 1964, Cousiño became commercial manager of the publishing company Zig-Zag. He later became involved with Banco Hipotecario and participated in its development into Banco Hipotecario de Fomento and subsequently Banco Hipotecario de Fomento Nacional (Bhif), a predecessor of BBVA Chile.
Cousiño also held senior positions in Chilean financial-sector trade associations. During the 1980s, he became the first president of what is now the Asociación Gremial de AFP de Chile. He also served as a director and, for one year, president of the association representing Chilean banks and financial institutions.
Politically unaffiliated, Cousiño was appointed Minister of Labour by President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo on 3 June 1954, serving until January 1955.
Cousiño died in Santiago on 4 June 2008, aged 92.