The Board of Directors is attributed with the broadest powers to administer and represent the Company, approve the Company strategy and the necessary organisation so that it can be put into practice, as well as supervising and controlling the senior management to ensure compliance with the objectives set out and respect for the Company?s corporate purpose and interest.
The plenary session of the Board of Directors reserves competence to approve the Company?s general policies and strategies and, in particular, (i) the strategic or business plan, as well as the annual management objectives and budget; (ii) the investment and finance policy; (iii) the definition of the structure of the group of companies; (iv) the corporate governance policy; (v) the corporate social responsibility policy; (vi) the risks control and management policy, including those relating to taxation, as well as the periodic monitoring of the internal information and control systems; (vii) the dividends policy, the treasury stock policy and, in particular, their limits.
The Board of Directors entrusts the ordinary management to the Chairman, the CEO and the Management Team, as well as the general dissemination, coordination and implementation of the Company?s management policies and guidelines, so that it can focus on defining, supervising and monitoring the general policies, strategies and guidelines to be followed by the Company and its group.
All of the members of the Board of Directors are external Directors except for the CEO, Mr. José Miguel García Fernández, who is executive Director.
Mr. José Ángel Corres Abasolo is independent director and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The stake of each of the Board Members in the Euskaltel, S.A., share capital, none of whom holds share options of the Company, are listed below.
Mr. XABIER ITURBE OTAEGI
- Non Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
External Director
Mr. Xabier Iturbe has a degree in Economics and Business Studies from Deusto University and an MBA with a finance speciality from the Stern School of Business at New York University. He has held management positions in leading companies in both the telecommunications and finance industries and for more than 10 years he has held top-level positions on the Boards of Directors of different entities and institutions representing the Basque Country (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, member, board member, etc.), and different sectors (finance, technology, foundations, etc.). This has given him excellent knowledge of the wider telecommunications industry, of Euskaltel, and of the financial world, as well as experience in coordinating and managing complex Boards of Directors. Mr. Iturbe is also very knowledgeable about the Basque Country and its institutions. Over the years, he has developed an international vision because of his education in the United States and his professional links to financial institutions and within Euskaltel itself. He has regularly taken part in and coordinated teams whose purpose was to define the strategic position of the companies and entities he has served and continues to serve.
Mr. JOSÉ MIGUEL GARCÍA FERNÁNDEZ
- CEO
Executive Director
Mr. José Miguel García began his career as a telecommunications and technology consultant at Lincoln Scott International (Australia). Over the last 30 years he has undertaken the role of CEO in 16 different countries including in Australia, Europe, South America and the USA. In 2018 he successfully took part in the acquisition of SQRRL and Briefcam by Amazon and Canon, respectively. In 2016 and 2017 he was a board member and vice-chairperson for the Millicon Group and a strategy consultant at the Orange Group (having been hired directly by the deputy CEO) in the transformation of European business units to the fixed-mobile convergence offering. He was CEO of Jazztel, the Spanish telecommunications company, from 2006 to 2015. Before he joined Jazztel in 2006, Mr García worked mainly at Cable & Wireless, where his roles included: CEO of Spain and Portugal, executive vice-chairman in Europe, CEO in Panama and managing director in the UK and Ireland. Prior to these roles, he was executive chairman and CEO in Spain and Portugal of Case Technology, a company that he co-founded and subsequently managed through its acquisition by Cable & Wireless, Plc. in 2000. He has also been a strategic investor and advisory board member to several start-ups around the world over the last 25 years. He has a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and a master's degree in digital communications from Monash University in Melbourne.
Mr. JOSÉ ÁNGEL CORRES ABASOLO
- Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Independent Director
Mr. Corres was appointed as independent director of Euskaltel in 2013. In 2010 he was named President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Bilbao, a position which he holds until this date. His previous professional experience includes positions in the Basque government as head of the group of "Ports of General Interest" and advisor to the Basque government representatives in the Port of Bilbao. In 1996 he was appointed President of the Port Authority of Bilbao and he held the position until 2009. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Bilbao Ría 2000 for thirteen years. He has a degree in Economics and Business from the Commercial University of Deusto and also studied in the Maritime Economics and Logistics Institute of Bremen.
| BOARD MEMBER |
POSTS |
| Mr. José Ángel Corres Abasolo |
Chairman of the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce.
Chairman of Bilbao Air.
Chairman of Bilbao Maritime Museum.
Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
|
Mr. EAMONN O'HARE
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Proprietary Director
Eamonn O'Hare holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Queen's University in Belfast and an MBA from the London Business School. He has held positions as a Board and executive member in some of the world's fastest growing technology and consumer companies. He is currently chairman and CEO of Zegona Communications, Plc, a telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
From 2009 to 2013 he served as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Virgin Media, a leading UK entertainment and communications company. He also serves as a non-executive director on the Board of Directors of Dialog Semiconductor, Plc, a leading consumer technology company that provides critical components for the world's most successful mobile device brands. He was also Chairman of the Audit Committee at Dialog Semiconductor from 2014 to 2015. Eamonn O'Hare was also executive director on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Tele2, a major European telecommunications company in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
Mr. ROBERT SAMUELSON
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Proprietary Director
Mr. Robert W. Samuelson was appointed a Euskaltel Director in July 2019. Mr Samuelson began work in the field of industry and engineering with British Aerospace and Royal Ordnance. Subsequently, he was a consultant at Arthur D. Little Ltd, becoming a lead director of the European Corporate Finance team. From 2000 to 2010 he was with the Virgin Group, where he became Managing Partner, Telecoms & Media, responsible for Virgin's telecommunications/media interests worldwide and was a member of the Group Strategy Committee, the body charged with overseeing all major new investments across the Virgin Group. He subsequently moved to Virgin Media in 2011 as Executive Director Group Strategy and was centrally involved in the continued development of the business and its subsequent sale to Liberty Global in 2013. In 2015, with Mr Eamonn O'Hare, he founded Zegona Communications PLC, where he is Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Director. He holds a Master's Degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and took an MBA at Cranfield University (Cranfield School of Management).
KARTERA 1, S.L., representated by Ms. Alicia Vivanco González
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Proprietary Director
Kartera 1, S.L. was incorporated as a limited company under the name of Kartera 1, S.A. on 30 July 1993, pursuant to the deed executed by José Antonio Isusi Ezcurdia, Notary Public of Bilbao, and entered as attested document number 2943 in his records. It was subsequently transformed into a limited liability company on 23 March 1999 by means of the deed executed by the aforementioned Notary Public, Mr. Isusi Ezcurdia, and entered as attested document number 826 in his records. This latest deed is entered in the Bizkaia Trade Registry, in volume BI-6559, book 0, folio 25, page BI-5126-A, 9th entry. Its tax number is B-48563506 and its registered office is at Gran Vía numerous 30-32, 48009 Bilbao (Bizkaia).
Alicia Vivanco González, the individual representing Kartera 1,S.L. and proposed to exercise the post of board member of the Euskaltel Board of Directors, was born in Valle de Trápaga -Trapagaran (Bizkaia) in 1960. She graduated in Economics from the University of the Basque Country. Ms. Vivanco joined Euskaltel's Board of Directors in 2003, at the time as representative of Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa (BBK). She has also been a managing director of Kutxabank, S.A. since 2012, where she leads Project Finance and Subsidiary Companies departments. She is also a director of other Kutxabank's subsidiaries including Deoleo, Ingeteam, IdE, Ibermatica, Talde and ´ Sociedad Promotora Bilbao Gas Hub (where she is also Chairman). Her previous professional experience was mainly developed in the financial entity BBK, which she joined in 1984, working in different departments: International Affairs, Portfolio Management and Capital Markets. She was named Managing Director of BBK in 2009.
Mr. LUIS RAMÓN ARRIETA DURANA
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Proprietary Director
Luis Ramón Arrieta Durana was born in Maeztu (Álava) in 1957. He graduated with a science degree (Industrial Chemistry) from Valladolid University and has a PhD in Financial Economics from the Autónoma University of Madrid. He rounded off his training at different business schools including INSEAD, IESE and Deusto Business School. His professional career has mainly been in the banking sector. In particular, Mr. Arrieta Duran has held the posts of Managing Director of Finanzia Banco de Crédito, S.A and BBVA E-Commerce, along with the posts of Assistant Executive Vice President of BBVA and Territorial Director of BBVA for the Basque Country and Cantabria, all within the BBVA Group. He has also been linked to the university training sector: he was the General Manager of Deusto University from 2007 to 2012. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of companies of the ilk of Gamesa, S.A., Norpension, Solium, Terra Network, S.A., Mobipay Internacional, Portal Gas Natural, S.A and Hotelnet B2B, S.A.
| BOARD MEMBER |
POSTS |
| Mr. Luis Ramón Arrieta Durana |
Member of the Board of the Foundation "Instituto de Selección Escolar de Vizcaya".
|
CORPORACIÓN FINANCIERA ALBA, S.A., representated by Mr. Javier Fernández Alonso
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Proprietary Director
Corporación Financiera Alba, S.A. is a company incorporated for an indefinite period of time under the name Cementos Alba, S.A., through instrument made public on 9 November 1953 before former notary public of Madrid, Mr Manuel Amorós Gozálbez, bearing number 2920 of his records; subsequently modified to change its name to the current name by instrument issued on 29 September 1986 authorised by the notary public of this capital city, Mr Rafael Ruiz Gallardón, bearing number 2813 of his records; its bylaws were adapted to the Corporations Act through instrument issued before the notary public of Madrid, Mr Luis Coronel de Palma, on 13 July 1,990, bearing number 3599 of his records, supplemented by another instrument likewise issued before the same notary public on 15 October 1990, bearing number 4723, and transcribing the consolidated text of the new bylaws. This was entered in the Trade Register of Madrid, General Volume 417, page 196, sheet number M-8078, 261st entry.
It is entered in the Trade Register of Madrid, General Volume 417, page 196, sheet number M-8078, 261st entry. It bears Tax ID Code A-28060903 and is domiciled at 28006 Madrid, calle de Castelló, nº 77, 5th floor.
Mr Javier Fernández Alonso, the individual representing Corporación Financiera Alba, S.A., proposed to exercise the position of director on the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, was born in Bilbao on 15 August 1977.
He is a graduate in Business Administration and Management from the Universidad de Deusto.
He spent part of his career as advisor on mergers and acquisitions in Goldman Sachs International (London) and ABN Amro Corporate Finance (Madrid), where he rose to the position of Associate Director.
Moreover, he holds the positions of Investments Manager and member of the Management Committee at Corporación Financiera Alba, S.A., likewise forming part of both Investments and Investors? Committees of Artá Capital SGECR S.A.
| BOARD MEMBER |
POSTS |
| Mr. Javier Fernández Alonso |
Members of the Board of Directors of Ebro Foods, S.A.
|
Ms. BELÉN AMATRIAIN CORBI
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Independent Director
Ms. Amatriain was appointed a director of Euskaltel in March 2015. She is currently an independent director of EVO Banco, S.A.U. Her previous professional career includes positions as Corporate Marketing Officer at Telefónica, S.A. from 2009 to 2012, CEO of Telefónica España from 2008 to 2009, CEO of Telefónica Móviles España from 2005 to 2007 and Chair and CEO of Telefónica Publicidad e Información. She graduated in Law from the Pontificia de Comillas University in Spain.
| BOARD MEMBER |
POSTS |
| Ms. Belén Amatriain Corbi |
Member of the Board of Directors of Amacor Gestión Inmobiliaria, S.L.
Member of the Board of Directors of EVO Banco, S.A.U.
Member of the Board of Directors of Capital Radio Economía, S.L.
Member of the Board of Directors of Prim, S.A.
|
Mr. IÑAKI ALZAGA ETXEITA
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Independent Director
Mr. Alzaga was appointed as independent director of Euskaltel in March 2015. He joined the Company in 1998 and developed his career until 2005 holding positions as Business Manager, Manager of Strategy and Business Development and member of the Managers Committee. Since 2005 he has also been President and CEO of Grupo Noticias. His previous professional career includes a position as General Manager of Editorial Iparraguirre, S.A. and a 12-year career in PricewaterhouseCoopers (Birmingham and San Sebastian desks).
| BOARD MEMBER |
POSTS |
| Mr. Iñaki Alzaga Etxeita |
Chairman of Compañía Multimedia del Norte, S.L.
Chairman of Editorial Iparraguirre, S.A.
|
Ms. ELISABETTA CASTIGLIONI
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Independent Director
Elisabetta Castiglioni joined the Euskaltel Board in June 2016. After developing her career in the world of telecommunications, working for operators (MCI Worldcom) and for manufacturers (Siemens), she currently offers advisory and consultancy services to different media and technological companies around the world, including clients of the ilk of the BBC, ITV, BSkyB, SABC, Rai, Mediaset, SkyItalia, Mediacorp Singapore, Cox, New York Times, Corus Entertainment, The Globe and Mail, StarTV, Times of India and ProsiebenSat1.
Mr. MIGUEL ÁNGEL LUJUA MURGA
- Member of the Board of Directors of Euskaltel, S.A.
Independent Director
Miguel Ángel Lujua Murga joined the Euskaltel Board in June 2016. Over the last thirty years, his career has focused on making different organisations more efficient, by managing the teams and people working under his responsibility. At institutional level, he was Chair of the Basque Business Confederation (Confebask) from July 2011 to July 2015 and was a member of the Executive Committee and of the Management Board of the Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organisations (CEOE) and deputy chairman of Innobasque. Miguel Ángel also belonged to the Management Board of the Bizkaia Business Confederation (Cebek) and has been Chair of the Basque Foundation for Excellence (Euskalit). In 2015, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the IMQ Group.
| BOARD MEMBER |
POSTS |
| Mr. Miguel Ángel Lujua Murga |
Chief Executive Officer of the Igualmequisa, S.A. Group
|
D. JON JAMES
- Vocal del Consejo de Administración de Euskaltel, S.A.
Consejero Independiente
D. Jon James fue nombrado Consejero de Euskaltel en el año 2017. Los inicios del Sr. James en el mundo laboral tuvieron lugar en el ámbito de la tecnología, de la multimedia y de las telecomunicaciones, con puestos ejecutivos en diferentes compañías del Reino Unido pertenecientes a dicho sector. En el año 2007, se incorporó a Virgin Media, donde fue Director de Estrategia y Director de Televisión. Tras 7 años en Virgin Media, en el año 2014 se incorporó a Com Hem, principal operador de cable de Suecia, donde fue Director de Operaciones, responsabilizándose del mercado residencial. Desde marzo de 2017, el Sr. James es Consejero Delegado de Tele2 Netherlands. Es licenciado en Economía e Historia por la Universidad de Cambridge.
Mr. JOSÉ ORTIZ MARTÍNEZ
- Non-Board Member Secretary
Mr José Ortiz has extensive experience in Corporation Law and consultancy for Boards of Directors. From 2004 to 2015, he was Director-General Secretary of Jazztel. Previously, he was Director and General Secretary to the Board of Telepizza. He graduated Law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Ms. CRISTINA SUSTACHA DUÑABEITIA
- Non-Board Member Deputy Secretary
Ms. Cristina Sustacha is Manager of Euskaltel Legal and Regulatory Services, working in the areas of Competition Law and Telecommunications and Audiovisual Sector Law. She also specializes in Personal Data Protection, being certified as Data Protection Delegate. Likewise, she teaches at the University of Deusto. Previously, she worked in digitizing projects at Accenture. She is a Law graduate from the University of Deusto.
