Business Magnate Gilbert Bigio Has Died
The founder of the multifaceted GB Group passed away at the age of 91.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Gilbert Bigio, the influential founder of the conglomerate GB Group, died in the United States on September 29, 2026. He was 91 years old.
Why it matters
Bigio built a sprawling business network spanning energy, infrastructure, and real estate throughout Haiti and the Caribbean. His long career was marked by significant international scrutiny and various government sanctions.
Bigio founded Aciérie d'Haïti in 1972, initiating a business network that later expanded into diverse sectors including telecommunications and logistics. His GB Group holdings eventually included 67 acquired Texaco stations in Jamaica.
The players
Gilbert Bigio
He was a prominent businessman who founded the GB Group and held extensive interests in Caribbean infrastructure and energy.
GB Group
This conglomerate maintains a significant business footprint in Haiti, including holdings in fuel distribution and logistics.
U.N. Security Council
This international body oversees global security and previously issued reports concerning the smuggling of weapons through regional ports.
The details
Throughout his career, Bigio established a vast industrial empire in Haiti using offshore entities based in the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands. Over the decades, his operations faced multiple challenges, including U.S. sanctions in the 1990s, Canadian sanctions in 2022, and reports from the U.N. Security Council regarding activity at his Port Lafito facility.
Timeline
Gilbert Bigio founded Aciérie d'Haïti in 1972.
The U.S. government sanctioned Bigio in the early 1990s.
Canada placed sanctions on Bigio in 2022.
Bigio passed away on September 29, 2026.
The funeral is scheduled for October 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
Bigio's career parallels the growth of influential regional conglomerates that utilized complex offshore trust structures. This story follows the disclosure patterns regarding offshore financial holdings seen in the Pandora Papers investigation.
The death of a major conglomerate founder often initiates complex restructuring processes that can impact local consumer goods and fuel supply chains. Customers and business partners should monitor for potential changes in the operational leadership of GB Group holdings.
The takeaway
Bigio's life illustrates the immense scale of regional business empires and the ongoing international regulatory efforts to monitor them. His passing marks the end of a decades-long chapter in Caribbean commerce and industrial development.
What happens next
The funeral for Gilbert Bigio is scheduled to take place on October 1, 2026, in Hollywood, Florida.
Further reading
Learn more about corporate transitions and closures in the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Haitian Times.
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