Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo is a Colombian businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and Chairman of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores (NYSE: AVAL), the largest banking and financial services group in Colombia. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1933, his career is rooted in engineering, construction, and strategic banking acquisition.

Sarmiento graduated from the National University of Colombia in 1955 with a degree in Civil Engineering. His entrepreneurial journey began with construction and real estate development in the 1950s. His philosophical commitment centers on long-term hold, financial prudence, and vertical integration (controlling construction, finance, and infrastructure).

• Grupo Aval (Founder & Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, the largest banking and financial services group in Colombia (controlling Banco de Bogotá, Banco Popular, and Banco AV Villas).
• Infrastructure Focus: His company, Corficolombiana, is a major investor in Colombian infrastructure projects (roads, energy).
• Academic Background: He holds a degree in Civil Engineering.
• Philanthropy: He is a major donor to education and health, funding the Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Cancer Treatment and Research Center (a $500 million project).

Luis Carlos Sarmiento's strategic genius was his commitment to financial acquisition. He used the profits from his construction business to begin acquiring banks in the 1970s and 1980s. He successfully created Grupo Aval by consolidating his diverse financial institutions, which successfully executed its IPO on the NYSE.

His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modernization and consolidation of the Colombian banking sector, ensuring its long-term stability. He is actively involved in infrastructure investment through Corficolombiana. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the Latin American financial and industrial sectors.

Luis Carlos Sarmiento is a major philanthropist. His structural social impact is tied to Grupo Aval's role as a massive employer and foundational provider of essential banking and financial services in Colombia. His profound philanthropic commitment is to healthcare and education, notably funding the $500 million Cancer Treatment and Research Center (a major structural gift to Colombian public health).

His structural contribution is tied to his belief in prudent financial management and his role as a key leader in the Colombian construction and finance sectors.

Luis Carlos Sarmiento maintains the professional, composed style of a financial executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global banking and infrastructure sector.

Residing in Bogotá, Colombia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to financial governance, strategic investment, and high-impact philanthropy.