Ignacio Galán, Chairman of Iberdrola, receives the ‘Business Person of the Year’ award from UPF-BSM

• Leaders from the country’s top institutions and companies attended the award ceremony for the UPF-BSM ‘Business Person of the Year’

• The award was given to Galán in recognition of his leadership at the helm of the company, turning it into a global benchmark in responsible and sustainable growth

The UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM) presented the Business Person of the Year award this Wednesday to Ignacio Sánchez Galán, Chairman of Iberdrola, in recognition of his leadership in transforming the company into a global benchmark in responsible and sustainable growth, as well as for his firm commitment to a cleaner, low-carbon energy model. Authorities, executives, and business leaders from the country’s top companies were present at the award ceremony, which was accepted by the Iberdrola Chairman.

The event also featured the participation of José M. Martínez-Sierra, General Director of UPF-BSM; Fátima Piqué, Deputy Director of UPF-BSM; and Ana Freire, Vice Dean of Social Impact and Academic Innovation.

This is the third edition of the award presented by the UPF Barcelona School of Management. The first edition was awarded to former Caixabank President José Ignacio Goirigolzarri, and the second to former Telefónica Chairman José María Álvarez-Pallete.

“This award aims to recognize and position as role models for future generations of students those business leaders whose careers exemplify the values of UPF-BSM and Pompeu Fabra University. In this sense, Ignacio Galán is a clear example, having demonstrated his commitment to sustainability through a strong focus on renewable energy during his tenure as Chairman of Iberdrola,” said José M. Martínez-Sierra, General Director of UPF-BSM, who presented the award to the Iberdrola Chairman.

In his acceptance speech, Ignacio Galán highlighted: “Receiving this award is especially meaningful to me, as it comes from such a prestigious institution as the UPF Barcelona School of Management, with values like a commitment to transformation, ethics, and continuous improvement as the foundation of success—values closely aligned with Iberdrola’s.”

“At Iberdrola, we have always pursued what we believe in, as we did 25 years ago when we made a firm commitment to renewable energy. Few could have imagined that we would become Europe’s largest electric utility by market capitalization, and the second largest in the world. Today, we are present around the globe, whereas in 2001, nearly all of our business was in Spain,” Galán stated.

Regarding clean energy electrification, Galán said: “The unstoppable electrification of energy use puts us in a phase of substantial growth in energy demand: global electricity consumption will double in the next 15 years.”

“Trillions of dollars in investments are needed for electricity infrastructure and to electrify demand. Most of these investments will go to power grids, which are the backbone of an electrified system,” the Iberdrola Chairman added.

Galán also emphasized: “Global investment in grids has grown by 33% in just five years, now exceeding $400 billion. But this will need to triple over the next decade. For every dollar invested in renewables, at least another dollar must be invested in grids. Currently, less than 40 cents per dollar are allocated. The challenge is enormous.”

“In Europe, we have renewable energy and efficient, safe nuclear power plants. However, we don’t have gas reserves, and basing our energy system on this raw material would put us at a disadvantage compared to other countries like the United States in terms of competitiveness,” said the Iberdrola Chairman on the European situation.

Energy Transition

Ana Freire, Vice Dean of Social Impact and Academic Innovation at UPF Barcelona School of Management, was responsible for reading the award citation. Freire emphasized that Sánchez Galán, at the helm of one of the world’s leading electric companies, “has led one of the most significant energy transitions in the sector in recent decades. Under his leadership, Iberdrola has become a global reference in renewable energy and smart grids across markets worldwide.”

The Vice Dean reviewed some of the milestones Iberdrola has achieved since Galán became Chairman in 2006. Freire highlighted the strategy he promoted, focused on internationalization and electrification as key pathways to reducing emissions.

“Iberdrola’s clear commitment to sustainability and social responsibility has been widely recognized internationally,” Freire said. “This is a mission we deeply admire at UPF Barcelona School of Management and Pompeu Fabra University, as it directly impacts our guiding principle: planetary well-being as the driving force for societal and economic progress.”

Freire also shared some figures, noting that since 2001, Iberdrola has invested €170 billion in clean energy, smart grids, and energy storage. “The company operates more than 44,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity worldwide, thus reinforcing its role in the electrification of the planet with a cleaner and more efficient energy model,” the Vice Dean explained.