José Ángel Pereira is a former CEO of Citgo Petroleum, global resilience leader, author, and internationally recognized speaker with more than 35 years of executive leadership experience in the energy industry and multinational corporate operations. Known for his extraordinary personal story of survival, faith, and resilience, José has become a powerful voice on leadership, adversity, and human transformation.

As a former senior executive in the global oil and gas sector, José built a distinguished career leading complex international operations and high-performance teams. His life changed dramatically when he became one of the “Citgo 6,” a group of American oil executives wrongfully detained in Venezuela for 1,775 days as part of a geopolitical conflict that gained worldwide attention. 

During his captivity, José endured years of isolation, uncertainty, and psychological hardship while secretly exchanging more than 1,000 letters with his wife—letters that would later become the foundation of his internationally acclaimed memoir, From Hero to Villain. The Spanish edition of the book reached #1 on Amazon in Latin Biographies and Memoirs categories, further amplifying his message of perseverance and hope.

Today, José is a bilingual (English-Spanish) speaker and leadership coach specializing in resilience, executive leadership, mental strength, and overcoming adversity. Through keynote presentations, coaching programs, and international forums, he helps executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders develop the mindset and emotional resilience necessary to navigate high-pressure environments and transformational challenges.

His story and expertise have been featured by major international media outlets including CNN, FOX News, Forbes, and other global platforms, where he shares perspectives on leadership, resilience, geopolitics, and the human capacity to overcome unimaginable circumstances. 

On screen, José delivers deeply inspiring and emotionally impactful conversations focused on resilience, faith, leadership under pressure, personal transformation, and global affairs. His authentic communication style and lived experience create a rare and compelling connection with audiences around the world.

His mission: Inspire individuals and leaders to overcome adversity, strengthen resilience, and transform life’s greatest challenges into purpose, growth, and lasting impact.