Antonio Huertas, the president of Mapfre, stated that the organization does not exist without the company itself, emphasizing that the company is capable of driving its own development. He highlighted the pivotal role of entrepreneurs and, in particular, the leadership of Mapfre, saying that Mapfre does not have a single entrepreneur behind it but a culture, a capability, and a set of values. Huertas accepted the Entrepreneur of the Year award during the Empresa del Año awards event, organized by Banco Sabadell and El Periódico de España, with sponsorship from the financial institution and collaboration from Cepsa, Naturgy, and Úbico, held at the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. (Source: El Periódico de España)
In his remarks upon receiving the prize, he admitted that such recognition brings questions to any entrepreneur, especially when distinguishing between an entrepreneur who builds, takes risks, and responds with all resources at hand, including family and patrimoine, and the executive who runs the business. “Entrepreneurs create companies,” he affirmed. He also used the moment to describe Mapfre’s recent three-year employee stock purchase program, which has led to 48 percent of Mapfre staff owning company shares. (Source: El Periódico de España)
Mapfre, a company listed on the Ibex 35, operates in more markets than any other Spanish firm, with activity in 40 countries and a leadership position in Latin America. It maintains significant operations in large markets such as Portugal and Turkey. Yet, as Huertas reminded the audience, the company has a substantial underlying foundation and actions that extend beyond its immediate footprint, underscoring a broader social impact and long-term responsibility. (Source: El Periódico de España)
Una empresa social y sostenible
The Empresa del Año prize was awarded to El Corte Inglés for its more than six decades of commercial activity in its service sectors. The group’s Director of Communications, Sustainability, and Institutional Relations, José Luis González-Besada, remarked, “It is an honor to receive such an important prize.” He added that the recognition is for the more than 80,000 workers who operate every day, including weekends, in an industry as challenging as retail. (Source: El Periódico de España)
The prize was announced in the same week that El Corte Inglés disclosed its 2023 financial results, described as the best operating performance since 2008. The conglomerate, led by Marta Álvarez, closed the latest fiscal year ending February 29, 2024, with a 73.7% rise in recurring net profit to 359 million euros and a 5.4% increase in overall revenue to 16.333 billion euros. (Source: El Periódico de España)
The closing remarks came from the vice president of CEOE and president of Madrid’s Business Confederation, who emphasized the role of entrepreneurs in society during uncertain times, calling them the true drivers of social dynamism. He described El Corte Inglés as a further testament to a company pivotal in Spain, while Huertas received admiration from peers who noted that many could learn from his example. He also highlighted AENA’s contribution to making sustainability a central axis and praised Ilunion for opening “windows of hope” for thousands of people. (Source: El Periódico de España)
For HM Hospitales, the speaker noted a growing leadership in private health where research and medicine intersect, and he pointed to GMV’s upward trajectory and ongoing innovation projects. He reserved praise for the start-ups honored that year, stating that Trucksters has transformed long-distance freight transport across Europe, while Ecobollution is marked by the exceptional talent it has brought to the market in a short period. (Source: El Periódico de España)