Francisco Luzón Life and Achievements in Spanish Banking

Francisco Luzón's career in Spanish banking spans over three decades, with a significant portion of that time spent at Banco Santander, where he held various leadership positions.

He started his career at Banco Santander in 1990 and worked his way up to become the bank's Vice Chairman in 2003.

Luzón's tenure at Banco Santander was marked by significant growth and expansion, including the bank's acquisition of several other financial institutions.

Throughout his career, Luzón has been recognized for his contributions to the Spanish banking industry.

Francisco Luzón was born into a modest family in El Cañavate, a small rural town in the province of Cuenca. He emigrated to Cruces, Baracaldo in Vizcaya at the age of five.

He spent his childhood with limited economic resources. His family's financial situation was a challenge.

In 1966, Francisco Luzón began his studies in Economics and Business at the University of the Basque Country, thanks to a scholarship granted for his excellent academic record.

Francisco Luzón's career in Spanish banking began from the ground up, starting with a formation program at the Banco de Vizcaya in 1972. He worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming a Consejero in 1987.

Luzón's experience in the Banco de Vizcaya laid the foundation for his future success. He was instrumental in transforming various units and filiales, including the División de Banca Internacional and the Sucursal de Londres.

His hard work and vision earned him a position as President of the Banco Exterior de España in 1988, where he led the reestructuración and modernización of the entity.

Francisco Luzón's career in Spanish banking began from the bottom up, starting with a program of formation at Banco de Vizcaya in 1972.

He worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming Consejero in 1987.

Luzón's labor of transformation led to the creation of new units and filials within Banco de Vizcaya, including the División de Banca Internacional.

He also played a key role in the expansion of the bank's presence in Latin America, driving the Grupo Santander to become the first major banking franchise in the region by 2006.

This was achieved through the creation of the División América in 1999, which led to the acquisition of over 30 banks, pension funds, and insurance companies in 10 countries.

Luzón's experience in the sector led to his appointment as President of the Banco Exterior de España in 1988, where he restructured and modernized the entity, making it a competitive force in the market.

He went on to lead the Corporación Bancaria de España, a holding company comprising six public and private entities, from 1991 to 1996.

Under his leadership, the company was privatized, generating significant revenue for the state.

Luzón's tenure at the Banco Santander from 1996 to 1999 saw him drive the transformation of the company, introducing a more transparent and socially responsible culture.

He also oversaw the merger with the Banco Central Hispano, creating the Banco Santander Central Hispano in 1999.

Francisco Luzón's career in Spanish banking started from the bottom up, as he joined a training program at Banco de Vizcaya in 1972.

He worked his way up the ranks, transforming various units and filials of the bank, including the División de Banca Internacional and the Sucursal de Londres.

Luzón's talent and tenacity allowed him to become a successful directivo bancario, holding positions such as Presidente de Argentaria and Responsable de América Latina del Santander.

In 1987, he reached the position of Consejero at the bank.

Despite his success, Luzón's life took a devastating turn when he was diagnosed with Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA), a disease that affects 4,000 people in Spain and 500,000 worldwide.

Despite the challenges he faced, Luzón chose to continue working and using his experience to make a positive impact, rather than retiring and enjoying his remaining years.

This determination and resilience are a testament to Luzón's strong values and character.

Francisco Luzón's academic and consulting presence has been quite extensive. He was a Leader Professor at the Universidad China Europe Internacional Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghái.

After retiring from the Banco de Santander, Luzón dedicated himself to the academic world. He was named Vicepresidente of the Biblioteca Nacional de España.

As a renowned expert, Luzón has held various positions in prestigious institutions, including President of the Escuela de Negocios de ICADE in Madrid and member of the Consejo Latinoamericano of the Universidad de Georgetown in Washington D.C.

Francisco Luzón has had a significant presence in the academic world, particularly in China, where he was named Leader Professor at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai.

He has also held various positions in Spain, including Vice President of the National Library of Spain.

As President of the ICADE Business School in Madrid, Luzón has contributed to the development of business education in Spain.

His involvement in the Georgetown University's Latin American Council and the Yale University's Global Advisory Council demonstrates his commitment to international academic collaboration.

Luzón has also been active in consulting, working with the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington and the European Stability Mechanism in Luxembourg.

His role as an advisor to the Government of Puerto Rico has further expanded his influence in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Francisco Luzón, un ejemplo de superación personal, vivió una vida humilde en un pequeño pueblo rural de la provincia de Cuenca.

Su talento y tenacidad le permitieron estudiar y ser un directivo bancario de éxito.

El ELA (Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica) truncó su apacible jubilación, una enfermedad devastadora e incurable que afecta a 4.000 personas en España y unas 500.000 en el mundo.

Luzón podría haber disfrutado de una jubilación "diferente", pero decidió aprovechar su experiencia previa de gestión empresarial para ser un líder y transformador social.

La Fundación Luzón da voz a pacientes con ELA y fomenta la investigación con especialistas del mundo.

La filosofía de Luzón es "hoy es siempre todavía", como promulgaba Antonio Machado.

Luzón vive con la ilusión de la Fundación y rodeado del amor de su gente, a pesar de no poder hablar, comer o andar.

Él entiende a los enfermos que deciden suicidarse, pero apuesta por la vida.