Corporate governance

Born in Madrid in 1957. He holds a degree in Market Business Administration, and is Doctor honoris causa from the University of Stuttgart (2008).

He is currently independent director at Acerinox, S.A. and member of its Executive Committee and Appointments, Remuneration and Corporate Governance Committee, Chairman at Fersa Bearings, S.A. and member of the Supervisory Board of Directors at Hochtief AG.

He has been awarded with the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit.

In 1993, he went to work for Volkswagen as head of the Group’s ‘Electrics/ Electronics’ purchasing area. From 1997 to 2007, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Volkswagen brand, becoming vice-chairman of the Volkswagen Group since 2000 until 2018. 

In 1995, he was appointed executive vice-chairman of SEAT, S.A., becoming director in 1997 and Chairman of the Board from 2007.

He was also Chairman of Volkswagen Navarra and of VGED (Volkswagen Group Spain Distribution) and member of the Board of Directors of Audi AG, FAW Volkswagen (China), Shanghai Volkswagen and Scania AB, as well as the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG. He was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Volkswagen Brazil and Volkswagen Argentina, and member of the Board of Directors of Criteria Caixa and of the Board of Directors of VidaCaixa, S.A. de Seguros y Reaseguros.

Between June 2009 and July 2012, he was Chairman of ANFAC (Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers) and later a member of it. He also held a leading position on the German automotive manufacturers association (VDA). He has been Chairman of the Advisory Board of UNED