After accepting the resignation of Mr. Miguel Martín Fernández from seeking a third term as President of the AEB, the top five banks represented on its General Council have agreed, in accordance with the provisions of Art. 16 of its Bylaws, to present the candidacy of Mr. José María Roldán Alegre to the Association’s General Assembly to be held on April 3, 2014.
At the end of 2012, Mr. Miguel Martín informed the member banks of the then Group One of the AEB of his wish not to renew his mandate at the head of the AEB in March 2014, the date on which he will have reached 70 years of age, and when the new Bylaws approved on March 21, 2013, will be fully in force.
The outgoing president wishes to express to the AEB members his gratitude for the trust placed in him over the past eight years, as well as his satisfaction at having been able to represent the sector during this period.
Over the last eight years, the Spanish banking system has faced one of the most complex and intense stages in its recent history. In addition to the international financial crisis and subsequent recession of the Spanish economy, there has been the need to redefine the structures of the European Monetary Union. All these events have posed extreme challenges for Spanish banks, which have once again demonstrated the quality of their management in adverse circumstances, their great capacity to adapt to a constantly transforming environment, and the sustainability and suitability of a customer-oriented business model. From all these challenges, the Spanish banking sector has emerged strengthened and prepared to help Spanish society embark on a new stage of economic prosperity. And all this without the need to seek public capital aid. The AEB has accompanied the banking sector throughout this process and has strived to represent the interests of the sector in the best possible way in all areas, and particularly in the intense regulatory process triggered in the European Union and the profound restructuring of the Spanish banking system.
The AEB has also contributed to maintaining stable labor relations in the sector and has played a relevant role in international forums, most notably in the European Banking Federation.
Mr. José María Roldán Alegre, who has expressed his gratitude, interest, and availability for the position, is an economist from the Bank of Spain’s Research Department, has been a Director of the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), and from October 2000 to October 2013 was head of the Directorate General of Regulation and Financial Stability of the Bank of Spain.
His extensive international experience will be key to ensuring the success of this Association in an environment of profound regulatory changes, including the future single European supervision. Furthermore, the new President will continue the challenge of highlighting the differential management that the entities forming part of the AEB have maintained during the crisis, without the need for public aid and acting as a key pillar of Spain’s economic recovery.
The Governor of the Bank of Spain has been kept promptly informed of this initiative.
