The story
History
In 1904, Leon Werthein, a merchant from Bessarabia, decided to leave the Russian Empire due to the hostility towards the Jewish people. His destination was Argentina. A year later, his wife, Ana Jajam, arrived with their four children: Gregorio, Elisa, Numo and Israel. In Argentina, the couple had four more children: Abraham, Fany, Noel and Julio.
In the town of Ingeniero White, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, León Werthein worked in the port: first as a stevedore, then as a foreman. Then, he settled in Salliqueló, where he opened a general store. The next step was to move to Miguel Riglos, in Atreucó, La Pampa, where, together with his sons, he opened another general store in 1917. León Werthein died in 1935, and his descendants continued the family business.
Foundation
Although León and his sons began working and trading upon their arrival in Argentina, the Werthein Group formally originated in 1928 in the town of Miguel Riglos, where Gregorio, Numo and Noel founded the agricultural company that bears their names: "Gregorio, Numo y Noel Werthein S.A." (GNNW). This firm would set the beginning of the family business in a sector in which the company grew, endures and continues to be a fundamental part of the holding in the 21st century. Already in the first half of the 20th century, the family diversified its business and some members ventured into the hotel sector: in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Carhué and Río Hondo.
Noel, Numo, Julio and Leo Werthein founded different companies:
Noel and Numo Werthein co-founded Tel Aviv University in 1968, together with George S. Wise.
Noel Werthein was president of the Argentine-Israeli Chamber of Commerce.
Gregorio Werthein was president of Banco Israelita del Río de la Plata, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Julio Werthein, León's youngest son, was responsible for the family's entry into the financial sector, with the acquisition of Banco Mercantil in 1963, which laid the foundations for the Group's future activity in the sector. He was also president of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange (2002–2005) and of CICYP (Inter-American Council of Commerce and Production). Julio died in 2013.
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Leo Werthein, Noel's son, played an important role in the expansion of the agribusiness, after taking an interest in and significantly collaborating with the Werthein family's contribution to the development of livestock genetics. In 1979 he began to manage "Gregorio, Numo y Noel Werthein S.A." (GNNW). He was president of the Argentine Angus Association, director of the Sociedad Rural Argentina and president of the Tzedaká Foundation, thus becoming a reference of the group until his death in 2005.
Norma & Leo Werthein Foundation
Since 2009, it promotes and supports programs and activities related to Education, Culture, Inclusion and Agriculture for the benefit of the most vulnerable population.
Purpose Vrio
Vrio has one purpose: to preserve the culture of each country, strengthen diversity in the region and boost the economy through investments to contribute to the sustainable development of communities. Purpose Vrio consolidates and integrates all the initiatives that represent the heart of the holding.
School +
An audiovisual education program for primary and secondary schools aimed at bridging the technological gap and promoting its pedagogical use for the development of students' skills. It provides educational institutions with technology, educational content, didactic materials and training for teachers throughout the region. In January 2025, the foundation inaugurated three School+ classrooms in Ecuador, in schools located in the communities of Itulcachi and Yunguilla, as well as in the Chocó Andino Reserve.
The Foundation produced Feik Ñus, an educational audiovisual project about the risks associated with fake news. In March 2025, the series was awarded at Mi Primer Festival, an international film event for children and youth in Peru. In April of the same year, the Foundation organized in Jujuy, together with the National Pedagogical University, the training program "Towards an Inclusive Education Connected to the Digital Future", a free 180-hour course for primary and secondary school teachers.
Investments, acquisitions and participations, by decade
1930s
YPF Agent
1940s
Representatives of Banco Nación
Import, distribution and sale of Ford trucks (Canada).
1950s
Imports Gregorio and Numo Werthein
Ford Motor Company Dealer
Hanomag Tractor Agent
Werthein Seed Dealers
El Hogar Argentino Bank
1960s
La Defensa Insurance Company
Manufacturers of Dumont Televisions
Banco Mercantil Argentino
Sale and distribution of Federal Trucks
1970s
Citrex, Valley Evaporating Company and Tucumán Citrus
1980s
Finca Flichman Winery
1990s
Partners in the investment fund CEI (Citicorp Equity Investments)
La Caja, 1994–2015
2000s
Participation in Finca Sophenia
Partner in Standard Bank Argentina
Telecom Argentina, 2003–2017
Transportadora de Gas del Sur (Southern Gas Transporter)
2020s
Vrio Corp.
From Wikipedia’s article on Werthein Group, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4