Roberto Gonzalez Barrera, head of Mexico's Banorte and Gruma, dies

MEXICO CITY Aug 26 (Reuters) - Mexican businessman Roberto Gonzalez Barrera, chairman emeritus of lender Banorte, died Saturday night in Houston, Texas, as a result of complications from pancreatic cancer.

Gonzalez was 81 years old.

A native of the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon, Gonzalez previously headed lender Grupo Financiero Banorte, Mexico's fourth-largest bank, and also founded corn miller and tortilla maker Gruma.

Considered one of the country's top business leaders, Gonzalez also served as chairman of the board of Gruma, a global company with operations spread across Latin America, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Officials at Banorte or Gruma have not yet announced funeral plans.