Alfredo Sáenz Abad

Sáenz started his career as an executive manager of Tubacex S.A. (1965–1980). After that, he was deputy general manager for Banco de Vizcaya (1981–1983); CEO and chairman for Banca Catalana (1983–1988); CEO and chairman for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya (1988–1993); chairman for Banco Español de Crédito (1993–2002), and first deputy chairman for Inmobiliaria Urbis S.A. (1998–2002)

Sáenz joined Banco Santander in 1994 as a board member. From 2002 until 2013 he was vice chairman and CEO. He resigned as CEO on 29 April 2013, before the Bank of Spain had to make a ruling on the court case from 1994.

During 2012, Alfredo Sáenz was chosen second best CEO in European Banking. That year, during his tenure as CEO, Banco Santander was named 'Best Bank in the world' by the business magazine Euromoney.

Sáenz retired from Banco Santander in 2013. His lump-sum pension payout was reported to be €88 million. The sizeable payout followed his 19-year career with the bank, which saw its global expansion and the quadrupling of its assets to €1.25 trillion. He was replaced by Javier Marín Romano.

In addition to his management work, Sáenz lectured at the University of Deusto from 1965 to 1984. In 1995 he joined the International Academy of Management. From 1997 to 2000 he was on the European Advisory Council of Air Products & Chemicals. In 1999 he was on the International Advisory Board of London Business School. In 2000 he became Chair of the European Financial Management & Marketing Association.

In February 2016, he was appointed president of the BDK Financial Group which controls the Bank of Dakar, headquartered in the capital of Senegal. On 8 March 2016 Sáenz acquired 5% of the shares of the BDK Financial Group, which was created by Alberto Cortina.

Sáenz is a Director of the Foundation Conde de Barcelona, the Foundation Empresa y Sociedad, the Foundation Cruz Roja Española, and the Foundation Ayuda Contra la Drogadicción.