Álvaro Navarro Hernández was born on October 19, 1945, in the city of Tepic, Nayarit, the son of Mr. Álvaro Navarro Sandoval and Mrs. María Herminia Hernández Álvarez. From an early age, they instilled in him the values of perseverance, discipline, and a strong work ethic. He built his family with Mrs. Rita María Esquivel Reyes, with whom he had three children: Rita María, Álvaro, and Gabriela.
After completing his high school and university studies at the University of Guadalajara (UDG), he graduated as a Certified Public Accountant. He began his professional career working in accounting firms in Mexico City and Guadalajara before moving to Tepic, Nayarit. In 1968, alongside CPA Antonio Echevarría Domínguez and Carlos Francisco Sánchez Vega, he established the accounting firm “Echevarría – Navarro y Sánchez,” providing professional services to both local and national businesses. At the same time, he worked as an administrator for Mr. Gustavo Munguía in a furniture store and managed the accounting for Armando Navarro González in a well-known motorcycle shop in Tepic.
In 1972, together with his business partner, CPA Antonio Echevarría Domínguez, he founded and later consolidated the largest business conglomerate in the state of Nayarit, “Grupo Álica.” Initially, he served as the Director of External Operations at Embotelladora del Nayar S.A. de C.V., a Coca-Cola distribution and marketing company. During his tenure, he laid the foundation for expanding distribution warehouses in Nayarit and Jalisco, establishing order and committed, loyal work teams—an effort and dedication that would ultimately become the seed of what Grupo Álica is today.
Within Grupo Álica, he was the Founding Manager of Business Development and Advisory (DEASA), which later became the corporate headquarters. He played a key role as a shareholder and a member of the Board of Directors, establishing, along with his partners, the principles that guided the creation and development of over 25 companies in the region—businesses aligned with the values and vision that form the foundation of Grupo Álica’s philosophy today.
Undoubtedly, Don Álvaro Navarro Hernández stood out for his commitment to social causes. He had a deep love for Nayarit and a genuine dedication to the growth and development of its people. His legacy includes the “Santa María de Guadalupe Madre de los Pobres” shelter, the development of entrepreneurship programs—where he provided mentorship and seed capital—and his active support for reforestation and bird conservation initiatives.
Don Álvaro, an accountant by profession but an agronomist by passion, passed away on January 27, 2021, at the age of 76. Honesty, friendship, and keeping one’s word were guiding principles throughout his life. Undoubtedly a great businessman and strategist ahead of his time, he is remembered by his partners, friends, colleagues, and employees as a visionary, passionate, humble, assertive, innovative, generous, avid reader, great teacher and mentor, a leader who built cooperative teams, and someone always focused on continuous improvement.
