Javier Echenique, Telefónica Vice President and Former BBVA CEO, Dies at 74 After Massive Stroke

Dec 15, 2024, 01:32 PM

Javier Echenique, the Vice President of Telefónica and former CEO of BBVA, has passed away at the age of 74 following a massive stroke. The news was confirmed by José María Álvarez-Pallete, the president of Telefónica, who described Echenique as a 'business reference and a friend.' Echenique had been a director at Telefónica since April 2016 and was known for his extensive career, including roles at Banco Sabadell, Repsol, ACS, and Banco Guipuzcoano. Born in Isaba (Navarra) in 1951, he had a degree in Economic and Actuarial Sciences from the University of the Basque Country and was a professor of Quantitative Social Security Techniques at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of Bilbao for several years. He also held prominent positions in the BBVA Group, where he was responsible for wholesale businesses in global investment banking, global corporate banking, companies, administrations, the Local Credit Bank, asset management, banking in Europe, insurance and pension, e-business, and the industrial and real estate group. His death marks a significant loss for the Spanish business community, with many expressing their condolences and recognizing his contributions to the telecommunications industry.