Ignacio S. Galán

Iberdrola's Executive Chairman

Ignacio Sánchez Galán is Executive Chairman of Iberdrola and of the Group's subholding companies in the United Kingdom (ScottishPower), the United States (Avangrid) and Brazil (Neoenergia)

Born in Salamanca in 1950, Ignacio Galán has managed leading companies in various industrial and technological sectors throughout his career, profoundly transforming the profile of each one thanks to his forward-looking vision and ability to anticipate new trends.

Since his arrival at Iberdrola, his focus on international expansion and his commitment to electrification as an essential driver of emissions reduction have led the company to invest more than €160 billion in renewable energy, smart grids, energy storage and the exploration of new technologies, making it the leading electricity utility in Europe and one of the two largest in the world by market capitalisation. Iberdrola is now present in dozens of countries including Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, Germany, France, Portugal and Italy, and supplies energy to more than 100 million people.

Galán has received international recognition on a number of occasions. In 2025, one of these awards was Best Chief Executive of European utilities at the Extel Europe & Emerging EMEA Equities Awards. In 2023, he was included on the TIME100 Climate list of the 100 most influential leaders driving corporate climate action. He has also received the World Jurist Association Medal of Honour at the United Nations for his promotion of ESG and the ESG Leadership Award from the Foreign Policy Association. In 2019, he was ranked as one of the five most important CEOs in the world and the leading executive in the utilities sector by Harvard Business Review.

Institutional activity and recognition of Ignacio S. Galán

Ignacio Galán holds honorary doctorates from the Universities of Salamanca and Comillas in Spain and from the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde in the United Kingdom. He is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, chairs the Social Council of the University of Salamanca and is a member of the Presidential Advisory Council of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

In 2014, he was awarded the honorary distinction of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his work promoting the British energy sector and fostering trade and investment relations between the United Kingdom and Spain.

Among the numerous recognitions he has received throughout his career are:

Awarded in 2025 with the International Energy Award, granted by the International Foundation for Energy & Sustainable Development in Qatar, for his visionary leadership and contribution to the evolution of the energy sector towards a more sustainable and efficient model.

Distinguised with the Business Person of the Year 2025 award by Universitat Pompeu Fabra – Barcelona School of Management, for his forward-thinking vision, commitment to innovation, and dedication to society.

Selected by Time as one of the 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business.

Honoured with the 2023 José Echegaray Ecoprensa Award, which recognises international personalities who have made significant contributions to the promotion of liberal ideals and spirit.

Received the World Jurist Association's Medal of Honor at the United Nations in 2023 for advancing environmental, social, governance and financial performance principles.

Ranked among the top five CEOs in the world by Harvard Business Review (2019).

Recognised as one of the 10 most influential CEOs in the world in the fight against climate change, according to Bloomberg.

Fourteen-time winner of Best Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the European electricity sector, awarded by the Institutional Investor Research Group, now Extel.

Awarded CEO of the Year at the Platts Global Energy Awards (2006).

One of the 100 CEOs included in Brand Finance's Brand Guardianship Index (2021).

Forinvest 2020 Career Achievement Award.

Awarded the National Innovation and Design Award 2019 in the Innovative Career category by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.

Named Universal Spaniard by the Independent Foundation in 2019.

Received the Business Leader of the Year 2008 Award from the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

With our Strategic Plan 2025-2028 we have reaffirmed our commitment to building a sustainable and secure energy future. Video voice-over transcription [PDF]

Professional career

He is named Executive Chairman of the Iberdrola Group. His appointment marked the beginning of one of the most successful transformation processes carried out by a large company in recent years.

Joined Iberdrola as Executive Vice President and CEO.

CEO of Airtel Móvil, S.A. (now Vodafone España, S.A.U.), where he took on the major challenge of handling the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Spain. In record time, he designed the deployment of the mobile network that enabled the launch of the then-new GSM telephony to compete in the market.

Chairman of Eurojet, the European consortium for the development and manufacture of the Eurojet 200 engine that powers the Eurofighter.

He led Industria de Turbopropulsores (ITP) from its inception, driving the design, manufacture and maintenance of aviation engines and gas turbines. Galán integrated workers and technicians from the restructuring of the naval sector in the Ría de Bilbao into the ITP workforce.

Ignacio Galán began his professional career at Sociedad Española del Acumulador Tudor, where he held various executive and management positions, playing a key role in the company's international expansion.

"In 2026, we are celebrating Iberdrola’s 125th anniversary, a history built on vision, anticipation and a commitment to a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible energy model that improves people’s lives. We are approaching this anniversary with the best prospects for the future: electrification will require further investment in electrical networks, renewables and storage, through which we will continue to enhance competitiveness and create jobs. Our strategy, track record and growth potential have made us a global benchmark in the electricity sector. Together, we will continue to make Iberdrola a stronger, more innovative company, one that is fully committed to society."

Ignacio S. Galán

Executive Chairman of Iberdrola

Other relevant positions held by the president

Member of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), the JP Morgan International Council, the World Economic Forum's (Davos) Top Electricity Executives Group and the Global Leadership Council of UNICEF's Generation Unlimited organisation.