Francisco González Rodríguez (born October 19, 1944) is a Spanish banker. He was president of the Argentaria bank between 1996 and 1998[1] and of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from 2000 to 2018.
Achievements
editA graduate in Economics and Business Studies from the Complutense University of Madrid, in 1987 he founded the securities company FG Inversiones Bursátiles, which would later be acquired by Merrill Lynch, who appointed him as the company's Advisory Director for Europe.[2]
González was appointed president of the then state-owned bank Argentaria, by the ruling People's Party in 1996[3] and following the merger with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in 1999, was co-president, with Emilio Ybarra, until the latter's resignation in 2001.[4]
Since January, 2000, to December 20, 2018, he has been Executive Chairman of BBVA, and since 2011 he has taken a leading role in the digital and technological transformation of the Bank.[5] As per BBVA rules, he must retire from his position at the age of 75 years old.[6]
Being known for starting his career as a computer programmer, González stated, “I do not see myself as a banker”.[6]
In September 2018, Francisco Gonzalez announced that he would step down in December and hand over to his number two Carlos Torres Vila.[7]
Imputation for crimes of corporate espionage and disloyal administration.
editThe investigating judge Manuel García-Castellón charged in July 2019 a total of eight executives and former executives of the financial institution, including Julio Corrochano, former head of Security of the financial institution[8] and the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) and the bank itself opened investigations for the corporate espionage allegedly commissioned by Francisco González to ex-commissioner José Manuel Villarejo in the harassment of Sacyr between late 2004 and early 2005.[9] In July 2021, he was also charged for disloyal administration.[10]
Awards and recognitions
editIn 2004 he was recognized with the ‘Business Leader of the Year’ award,[11] and in 2014 the Americas Society awarded him its gold medal.[12] In July 2015, Gonzalez was recognized with the "Banker of the Year 2016" award.[13]
References
edit- ^ BBVA. "Francisco González | BBVA". NEWS BBVA. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
- ^ Díaz, Juan Manuel Zafra (1996-02-15). "Merrill Lynch cierra la compra de la empresa bursátil FG por 3.700 millones". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Los 37 convocados por Zapatero: una lista equilibrada y sin grandes ausencias". El País (in Spanish). 2010-11-24. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Francisco González, nuevo presidente del BBVA tras la renuncia de Ybarra". El País (in Spanish). 2001-12-18. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "The BBVA bank vaults that hoard data instead of bullion". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ a b "BBVA, a Spanish bank, reinvents itself as a digital business". The Economist. 14 October 2017.
- ^ "BBVA's Francisco González retires after 18 years". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "La investigación del caso Villarejo aboca a una pronta imputación de Francisco González". Diario ABC (in Spanish). 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ Noceda, Miguel Ángel; Barrón, Íñigo de (2019-01-27). "La toma del BBVA". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "El juez también imputa a Francisco González por administración desleal por los encargos a Villarejo". La Razón (in Spanish). 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "González gana el «Business Leader of the Year»". Diario ABC (in Spanish). 2004-10-02. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Medalla de Oro para Francisco González". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Banker of the year 2016: Francisco González, BBVA". Euromoney. 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2024-07-14.