Manuel Barreiro Castañeda

Manuel Barreiro Castañeda – Real Estate and Private Equity Investor 

Manuel Barreiro Castañeda is a Mexico-based real estate investor who has led development and investment activities across North America and Europe. His experience spans more than 25 years in the industry, during which time he has directed financing, project management, and property acquisition.   

He currently serves as partner and chairman of Aston Group, a private equity firm based in Mexico that he launched in 2007. Since then, he has grown the company’s portfolio to encompass over $1 billion in investments across Europe, Central Mexico, and other parts of North America. Manuel Barreiro Castaneda also established three subsidiaries under the Aston Group umbrella: Abac Logistics, Akua Retail Properties, and Auren Offices and Resorts. Under his guidance, Aston Group focuses on sustainable projects with a positive impact on the planet. The company also seeks to improve the safety, inclusivity, and resilience of the communities in which it operates.   

Beyond his role at Aston Group, he serves as a member of The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations. He is vice chair of the ITU’s Working Group 8 on the Metaverse – Sustainability, Accessibility & Inclusion, a focus group that oversees social considerations, environmental sustainability, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues regarding the metaverse.  

Manuel Barreiro Castañeda previously sat on the boards of several entities that his company invested in, including Suin Energy Drinks, Manifesto Advertising Co., and La Lupita Madrid. In addition, he served on the board of Coparmex and acted as a consultant to the State of Querétaro, Mexico’s Urban Development Board for four years. He also spent a year with the Asociación Mexicana de Parques Industriales Privados as president of its Energy Group. In this capacity, he presided over negotiations with the Mexican Congress to obtain more agreeable energy supply terms and conditions for different industrial sectors.   

Earlier in his career, Manuel Barreiro Castañeda founded Advance Real Estate. He oversaw the industrial and logistics real estate business for a decade, during which time he facilitated an increase in value from $10,000 to more than $1 billion. The company engaged in the leasing, acquisition, and operation of Mexico-based industrial projects, supported through collaborations with diverse international investors.  

Outside of his professional pursuits, he is involved in philanthropy. He supports the  
The Aston Barreiro-Ugalde Foundation which provides resources to support the education of students in Mexico.