Dr. Arturo Fernández earned his B.A. in Economics from ITAM and his M.A. and Ph.D in Economics from University of Chicago. He won the second place of the Banamex National Prize of Economics in 1987. On January 1, 1992 became President of Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).

Prior to this, he was in charge of the Economic Deregulation Program at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dean of the Division of Social Science and Department Chair of Economics at ITAM, Advisor in the Undersecretary of Finance at the Ministry of Finance and Director of the Tax Policy Office in the same Ministry. 

Currently, he is member of the Board of Directors of the following Mexican companies: Industrias Peñoles, Grupo Nacional Provincial, El Palacio de Hierro, Grupo Financiero BBVA Mexico, Grupo Bimbo and Fresnillo plc.