Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galán Named Honorary Member of Madrid Economists.

The Madrid Association of Economists honoured Ignacio Galán for his career and contribution to Iberdrola’s global reach and Spain’s international profile.

SPAIN, November 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- • The award ceremony took place at the Paraninfo of Complutense University of Madrid, with a laudatio delivered by Pablo Hernández de Cos and the event chaired by Amelia Pérez Zabaleta.

• Galán framed the “era of electrification” as a structural shift for Europe and pointed to power grids as a key investment priority for the next decade.

Ignacio Galán, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, has been named an Honorary Member of the Madrid Association of Economists at a ceremony held at the Paraninfo of Complutense University of Madrid. The professional association highlighted Galán’s career and his contribution to strengthening Iberdrola’s international footprint and Spain’s global presence, at a time when the electrification of the economy is becoming increasingly central to Europe’s energy and industrial agenda.

The Madrid Association of Economists noted that the distinction recognizes Ignacio Galán’s professional merits and his role in Iberdrola’s evolution over recent decades, positioning the company as a benchmark business in Spain and internationally. The association presented the appointment as recognition of a career linked to key transformations in Spain’s corporate landscape and in the energy sector.

The laudatio for Ignacio Galán was delivered by Pablo Hernández de Cos, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements, former Governor of the Bank of Spain, and a candidate to lead the European Central Bank. In his remarks, Hernández de Cos connected Iberdrola’s growth trajectory to a long-term strategic vision focused on electrification and investment and underscored the appointment’s significance as recognition of more than five decades associated with major business transformations in Spain.

The ceremony was chaired by Amelia Pérez Zabaleta, Dean-President of the Madrid Association of Economists. Speakers also emphasized electrification as a competitiveness driver. In his address, Ignacio Galán argued that electrification represents a structural opportunity for Europe, enabling a shift from an energy-spend-intensive model dependent on imported fossil fuels to another centered on high value-added productive investment.

Electrification and investment

Against that backdrop, Galán referred to the scale of investment required for electrification, estimated at more than €200 billion per year over the next decade, with a significant share directed to power grids. He also noted that 2026 marks Iberdrola’s 125th anniversary, a milestone the company reaches with €165 billion in assets and a market capitalization of €150 billion, according to figures referenced during the event.

Galán also addressed the company’s internal evolution over that period, stating that changes in technology, markets, people, and company size have taken place alongside the continuity of corporate values such as effort, commitment, integrity, loyalty, teamwork, transparency, and honoring one’s word. In addition, he pointed to expected demand growth in the so-called era of electrification and stated that Iberdrola is facing what he described as the strongest growth outlook in its history, with investments that could reach €80 billion over five years and a potential path to net profit of up to €10 billion.

In closing remarks, Amelia Pérez Zabaleta highlighted the appointment’s institutional significance and its role as encouragement to continue promoting professional rigor and business dynamism as core drivers of society. The Madrid Association of Economists also framed Galán’s inclusion in its honorary roster alongside other prominent figures in Spain’s recent economic history and leading business leaders.

The association further reiterated its role representing the economics profession, safeguarding proper professional practice, and serving as a space for training, convening, and knowledge generation. It also referenced its historical origins dating back to 1948, the adoption of its current name in 1977, and its geographic scope covering Madrid and several provinces across Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha.

Galán’s appointment as an Honorary Member comes amid an accelerating European debate on energy, investment, and industrial competitiveness. The event in Madrid provides a clear news hook: institutional recognition of a business career and an economic framing of electrification as a lever for growth, productivity, and resilience.

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