Ignacio Sánchez Galán, Doctor Honoris Causa of the Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Ignacio Sánchez Galán, Chairman of Iberdrola, has been named doctor honoris causa by Comillas for his professional career and his involvement in his commitment to green energy. Furthermore, as was recalled during the ceremony, Iberdrola is today the leading European electricity company and the third on a global scale in terms of stock market capitalisation, with a presence in dozens of countries. As a result of this process, it now supplies energy to more than 100 million people around the world.

"Basing our supply on inexhaustible resources such as renewable energies will give us greater security and autonomy and reduce our vulnerability and our dependence on imports", said Ignacio Sánchez Galán. After warmly thanking him for the award, he shared a thought that guides his business decisions. "Never in history has it been more necessary to give companies a real responsibility towards the communities they serve. People must be at the centre of any activity", he said, and assured that "the energy transition puts within our reach the possibility of improving the living conditions of the population, while at the same time making a more rational use of the resources we have inherited and preserving them for future generations".

A renowned alumni

Mariano Ventosa, Vice-Rector for Research and Teaching Staff at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, was in charge of presenting and praising the award winner, who graduated in Industrial Engineering from Comillas ICAI, and holds a Diploma in Business Administration and Foreign Trade from Comillas ICADE. After an exhaustive review of his professional career, Ventosa said that "of the many merits that our university recognises today, we highlight in this ceremony his dimension as a global business leader" because "he is one of those rare Spanish business leaders to whom real attention is paid. To what he says and what he does".

Ventosa highlighted his Jesuit education and his authenticity, which "has been reflected in his constant concern for his teams and for all the people in the company". He also praised his critical sense, his ability to identify what matters from what does not and his desire to improve and learn from his mistakes.

The rector of the university, Antonio Allende, SJ, also praised the leadership of the president of Iberdrola and had words of recognition for Galán, whom he thanked for "his closeness and support", which "will strengthen the educational and research proposal of this university and our quest for a better world".