Ortiz Martínez served as the chairman of the board of Bank for International Settlements from March 2009 to December 2009.

He has been an independent director of Grupo Aeroportuario Del Sureste SA de CV since April 26, 2010.

[1] When Ernesto Zedillo was sworn as President of Mexico, Ortiz joined the cabinet as Secretary of Communications and Transportation for 28 days.

At the midst of the economic crisis of 1994, he was appointed Secretary of Finance and Public Credit and served for three years.

On January 1, 1998, he was appointed governor of the central bank by President Zedillo, substituting Miguel Mancera.

Later, in 2004, he was reelected governor for six more years by a majority vote in Congress and by the recommendation of president Vicente Fox.