Ignacio S. Galán

Executive Chairman

Ignacio Sánchez Galán is Executive Chairman of Iberdrola and of the Group's subholding companies in the United Kingdom (ScottishPower), the United States (Avangrid) and Brazil (Neoenergia)

Born in Salamanca in 1950, Ignacio Galán has managed leading companies in various industrial and technological sectors throughout his career, profoundly transforming the profile of each one thanks to his forward-looking vision and ability to anticipate new trends.

Since his arrival at Iberdrola, his focus on international expansion and his commitment to electrification as an essential factor in reducing emissions has led the company to invest more than €140 billion in renewable energies, smart grids, energy storage and new vectors such as green hydrogen, making it the leading electricity company in Europe and one of the two largest in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Iberdrola is today present in dozens of countries, such as Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, France, Portugal, Italy, Australia and Japan, and supplies energy to more than 100 million people.

In addition, his firm commitment to environmental protection and social responsibility has led the company to become a benchmark in the main sustainability indices. Iberdrola is the only European electricity company included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index since its creation and has been one of the most prominent electricity companies at the global level according to the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index and the FTSE4Good. The company has also been recognised for its good corporate governance practices by the publications World Finance and Ethical Boardroom, and as one of the most ethical companies in the world by the Ethisphere Institute.

Chosen in 2019 by Harvard Business Review as one of the five most important CEOs in the world, and the top-ranking CEO in the utilities sector, Ignacio Galán firmly believes in the importance of promoting young talent and encouraging the exchange of experiences, cultures, and knowledge as an essential way to motivate an increasingly global team. Since joining Iberdrola, he has promoted pioneering policies that foster training, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Institutional activity and recognition of Ignacio S. Galán

Ignacio Galán holds honorary doctorates from the Universities of Salamanca, Comillas (Madrid), Edinburgh and Strathclyde, and he is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde. What’s more, he chairs the Social Council of the University of Salamanca and is a member of the Presidential Advisory Board at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

In 2014, he was awarded the honorary distinction of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his work promoting the British energy sector and fostering trade and investment relations between the United Kingdom and Spain.

Among the numerous recognitions he has received throughout his career are:

Selected by Time as one of the 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business.

Winner of the 2023 Best Business Leadership in Energy Transition prize at the El Periódico de la Energía Awards.

Honoured with the 2023 José Echegaray Ecoprensa Award, which recognises international personalities who have made significant contributions to the promotion of liberal ideals and spirit.

Received the World Jurist Association's Medal of Honor at the United Nations in 2023 for advancing environmental, social, governance and financial performance principles.

Ranked among the top five CEOs in the world by Harvard Business Review (2019).

Recognised as one of the 10 most influential CEOs in the world in the fight against climate change, according to Bloomberg.

Nominated for Best Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the European utilities sector 12 times by the Institutional Investor Research Group. He was also nominated as the best CEO of European utilities and Spanish listed companies in investor relations by the Thomson Extel Survey and as the Best CEO in Investor Relations by IR Magazine on three occasions.

Awarded CEO of the Year at the Platts Global Energy Awards (2006).

One of the 100 CEOs included in Brand Finance's Brand Guardianship Index (2021).

Forinvest 2020 Career Achievement Award.

Awarded the National Innovation and Design Award 2019 in the Innovative Career category by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.

Named Universal Spaniard by the Independent Foundation in 2019.

Received the Business Leader of the Year 2008 Award from the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

We are the energy that moves the world. Video voice-over transcription [PDF]

Professional career

He is named Executive Chairman of the Iberdrola Group. His appointment marked the beginning of one of the most successful transformation processes carried out by a large company in recent years.

Joined Iberdrola as Executive Vice President and CEO.

CEO of Airtel Móvil, S.A. (now Vodafone España, S.A.U.), where he took on the major challenge of handling the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Spain. In record time, he designed the deployment of the mobile network that enabled the launch of the then-new GSM telephony to compete in the market.

Chairman of Eurojet, the European consortium for the development and manufacture of the Eurojet 200 engine that powers the Eurofighter.

He led Industria de Turbopropulsores (ITP) from its inception, driving the design, manufacture and maintenance of aviation engines and gas turbines. Galán integrated workers and technicians from the restructuring of the naval sector in the Ría de Bilbao into the ITP workforce.

Ignacio Galán began his professional career at Sociedad Española del Acumulador Tudor, where he held various executive and management positions, playing a key role in the company's international expansion.

"After more than two decades of implementing a pioneering vision based on electrification as a way to increase energy autonomy and decarbonise production systems, we have unveiled a new plan in 2024 that will enable us to accelerate our growth, further optimise our financial strength and create even more value for our shareholders, our employees and the societies we serve."

Ignacio S. Galán

Executive Chairman of Iberdrola

Other relevant positions held by the president

Member of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), the JP Morgan International Council, the World Economic Forum's (Davos) Top Electricity Executives Group, the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition and the Global Leadership Council of UNICEF's Generation Unlimited organisation.