My Job
I help my clients (multinationals, trade associations, governments and NGOs) seize the business opportunities and avoid/address the threats arising from regulatory, political and litigation developments.
For the last two years I have led the EU Competition, Trade and International Litigation practice of FTI Consulting.
My Experience
After having done my military service in the Spanish Navy on board of a frigate, I started my professional career as an in-house corporate lawyer in Spain. In 2001 I moved to Brussels to head the EU office of one of the leading Spanish foundations and co-founded and managed a small Brussels-based public affairs consultancy.
In 2005 I joined Blueprint, which a couple of years later was acquired by FTI Consulting. Since then I have had different positions in FTI Brussels and have led the development of our PA team in Spain.
Throughout the years I have led accounts/campaigns in a broad range of sectors (security, TMT, industrials, F&B, energy, transport, aerospace, etc.) and for a wide diversity of corporates, trade associations, governments and NGOs.
Since 2010 I am Vice President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg and I chair its EU Committee. I am equally alternate member of the European Economic and Social Committee, which is the EU’s main consultative body.
My Specialisms
My Proudest Achievements
Perhaps because it was in the early stages of my career in Brussels, the high stakes and also because of the implications for my home town (Gijon) and region (Principality of Asturias) I am particularly proud of having been part of the “Deal Team” that advised Mittal in its €33 billion successful hostile bid for Arcelor. This was one of the most high-profile and politicised transactions in EU history. The deal needed approval not only by DG COMP but also by different national/regional governments which were Arcelor’s shareholders. As a result, we had to design and implement a fully-fledged and integrated media and PA campaign, both in Brussels and key countries, targeting local, regional, national and EU policy-makers as well as other key stakeholders, notably trade unions. After almost 6 months of a very sophisticated and intense 24/7 campaign we succeeded. After the deal’s approval, Mr Mittal publicly recognised that “without public affairs the transaction would have not happened”. It was also a turning point for Blueprint, which was shortly after recognised as the leading EMA PA Consultancy of the Year and subsequently acquired by FTI Consulting. Last but not least, despite the dramatic crisis that Spain went through afterwards, Arcelor Mittal’s operations in my region not only continued but were strengthened. Most analysts say that would not have been the case if the merger had not happened.
My Education
BA Hons in Law (University of Oviedo) and MA in EU Law and Policy (University of Leeds).
My Languages
English, French and Spanish.
My Interests outside work
I like to spend my very limited free time with my lovely Belgian wife Valérie and little daughters Sofía (5 years old) and Salomé (2). Promoting my country (Spain) and my region’s (Asturias) gastronomy is one of my passions. Together with some business people from my region, including Michelin-star cook Marcos Moran, in 2016 I founded a Spanish restaurant in Sablon (Hispania), which has become a meeting point of EU policy-makers, diplomats, business people and lobbyists. We have the honour of having amongst our recurrent clients President Juncker, several Commissioners and numerous ministers, MEPs and diplomats. In June 2019 we were recognised as the Restaurant of the Year in Brussels by the prestigious Guide Delta.
Other hobbies: playing piano (badly) and sports (running, football, cycling and tennis).
My Favourite Brussels anecdote
Back in 2006 when we were advising Mittal around its hostile bid for Arcelor helping the company obtain DG COMP approval and the “blessing” of key governments which were Arcelor shareholders, I had the chance to accompany Mr Mittal to a hearing in the Belgian Senate. We were expecting a very hostile welcome by the senators due to trade unions and local constituents’ pressure but thanks to his convincing presentation about the industrial plan behind the merger and his undeniable personal charm, the meeting ended surprisingly with a big applause and the senators singing Happy Birthday to Mr Mittal … It was his 56th anniversary.