The Life and Times of Miguel Blesa, Former Bank Chief

Miguel Blesa was a prominent figure in the Spanish financial sector, serving as the CEO of Caja Madrid, one of the country's largest savings banks.

He held this position from 1996 to 2010, leading the bank through a period of significant growth and expansion.

Blesa was known for his conservative approach to banking, which some saw as a key factor in the bank's success during a time of economic uncertainty.

He was also a vocal advocate for the interests of small and medium-sized businesses, recognizing the vital role they play in driving economic growth.

Blesa's tenure as CEO was marked by a series of high-profile controversies, including allegations of improper lending practices and conflicts of interest.

Despite these challenges, Blesa remained a respected figure in Spanish financial circles, earning a reputation as a shrewd and effective banker.

Miguel Blesa was at the center of several judicial investigations, including one that started in 2013 regarding possible irregularities during his time at Caja Madrid.

The investigation focused on the granting of credits to Grupo Marsans, the purchase of the City National Bank of Florida in 2008, and the sale of preferred shares.

The judge, Elpidio Silva, was found guilty of a crime of prevarication and sentenced to 17 years of professional inactivity.

The Supreme Court also found that Blesa's detention was a result of a deliberate attempt to persecute him, without any justification.

In 2014, another investigation was opened into the possible use of opaque corporate credit cards for personal expenses by Caja Madrid's directors, including Blesa, who allegedly spent 436,700 euros.

Blesa was required to post a 16 million euro bail after testifying before Judge Andreu in 2014.

In 2017, Blesa was sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in the case, being found guilty of a crime of embezzlement.

Miguel Blesa's career in politics began in the 1970s.

Blesa was a member of the People's Alliance (AP) party and held various positions within the party.

In 2000, Blesa was appointed as the President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, a position he held until 2003.

This individual received the Medalla de Oro de la Real Academia de la Historia, a prestigious award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of history.

He was also awarded the Premio al Mejor Presidente de Entidad Financiera in 2005 by the economic magazine Banca 15, a notable recognition of his leadership in the financial sector.

These awards reflect his accomplishments and impact in his field, and are a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Sources close to Miguel Blesa reported that he hadn't seemed depressed or downcast in recent days, according to statements made to Europa Press news agency.

These sources also mentioned that Blesa was concerned about his ongoing legal battle, which had been going on for several years.

Blesa had high hopes that the Supreme Court would rule in his favor in the black credit card case following his appeal against the six-year prison sentence.

The sources described Blesa as never looking downcast, even in the toughest moments, and noted that this particular time was actually one of the quietest he was going through.

Anti-corruption prosecutors had initially called for Blesa and Rato to pay a civil bond to avoid jail, with the figure ranging between €75,000 and €100,000 in Blesa's case.

However, Spain's High Court chose not to impose the bond until the appeal was resolved.

Blesa had previously spent 15 days in jail in June 2013, after a judge sent him to Soto del Real penitentiary in Madrid.