BBVA recently hosted its Eastern Regional Advisory Council at its Valencia headquarters. The council gathers entrepreneurs and respected independent business experts who meet regularly to offer guidance, consultation, and discussion on key economic and social developments. This session concentrated on strengthening public-private cooperation and assessing current conditions and challenges faced by companies across the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, and Murcia, viewed from a regional lens.
Representing BBVA Spain were Peio Belausteguigoitia, country manager; Fernando Alonso, Director of Companies and Corporations; Rafael Doménech, Head of Economic Analysis at BBVA Research; Antonio Carreto, regional director of BBVA East; and David Conde, regional director of BBVA East. The participants engaged in a thorough dialogue about business outlooks and forthcoming hurdles across the sectors represented, with a focus on practical strategies for growth and resilience.
Belausteguigoitia offered an optimistic yet prudent forecast for the economy. He highlighted the bank’s role in supporting the real economy, including firms and families, functioning as a credit mobilizer and a long-term financing partner for the communities it serves. He identified pivotal challenges ahead, especially in innovation, digitalization, and the transition to a decarbonized economy, stressing that these factors will shape the region’s trajectory in the years ahead.
BBVA is described as a global bank that combines the strengths of a large institution with the understanding of a local bank that prioritizes service. Regional advisory councils are invited to cultivate a trusted relationship that fosters close collaboration in each region. This approach helps the organization grasp local realities firsthand and better address the needs of customers in every district where it operates. Since 2010, Spain has established seven regional advisory councils, one for each regional hub, with prominent figures from local business and civic life represented in the group.
Participants and Sectors
Notable participants include Gabriel Escarrer, Vice President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, who serves on the BBVA Regional Advisory Council for the Community of Valencia, Murcia, and the Balearic Islands; Sabina Fluxà, Vice President and CEO of Iberostar Group; Joan Trian Riu, executive board member of the Riu Group; Encarna Piñero, Vice President and CEO of Grupo Piñero; Pedro Matutes Barceló, General Manager of Sirenis Group; Tomás Fuertes, president of the Fuertes Group; Juan Luis Durich, general manager of Consum; Antonio Arias, CEO of Vectalia Group; Anna Colonques, Porcelanosa’s financial director; Antonio Blasco, CEO of Esmalglass; Corinna Graf, CEO of Puerto Portals; Simón Pedro Barceló, co-chairman of the Barceló Group; Abel Matutes, Vice President of the Matutes Group of Companies; and Miquel Fluxà, Vice President of Camper Group. Their involvement underscores the council’s role as a bridge between regional business dynamics and national and international perspectives. The assembly spans a wide range of sectors including hospitality, consumer goods, distribution, manufacturing, and real estate, illustrating the depth of local expertise available to guide strategic discussions.