José Manuel Entrecanales


José Manuel Entrecanales Domecq is a Spanish businessman and former banker. In 2004, he succeeded his late father as chairman and CEO of Acciona, a global leader in infrastructure, renewable energy and water. In 2019, Forbes ranked him the 85th richest person in Spain, estimating his personal wealth at US$362 million, although his family fortune is estimated at around US$3.6 billion.
Entrecanales has been highlighted as a key leader of a new generation of Spanish businessmen "shaped by family roots but identifying fully with modernisation". He is a firm advocate of the fight against climate change from a corporate perspective, which earned him the Order of the Rising Sun, as well as being a frequent speaker at global forums, most recently at the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference.

Biography

José Manuel Entrecanales was born 1 January 1963 in Madrid to an influential family of businessmen. His father was José María Entrecanales y de Azcárate, Chairman of Acciona and his mother, Blanca Domecq y Zurita, was the daughter of the 2nd Viscount of Almocadén. Entrecanales read Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid.

Personal life

Entrecanales is married to María Carrión, and has 4 children: José, Gonzalo, Clotilde and Gerardo. His three sons attended Eton College. He is a polo enthusiast as well as a keen golfer with a 5,2 handicap, both of which he practices at Puerta de Hierro.

Professional career

He began his career in 1985 in Merrill Lynch, sharing his time between New York and London. He moved to Acciona in 1991. In 1995, the family business bought a majority share package of a mobile company called Airtel and José Manuel Entrecanales was named CEO in 2000, replacing Juan Abelló. In 2003, Vodafone bought Acciona’sshares of Airtel and Entrecanales was the CEO of Vodafone Spain up until October 2007.

Distinctions

An advocate of sustainable development and the fight against climate change, José Manuel Entrecanales is a member of the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders of the World Economic Forum, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Global Compact LEAD and the Corporate Leaders Group for Climate Change.

Honours