José Ignacio Fernández López is a senior executive with a solid and diverse background in business management, finance, strategy, and institutional development. An Industrial Engineer from the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineers of Bilbao and an MBA from IESE (University of Navarra), he has complemented his education with a Financial Management program at the University of Deusto and doctoral studies in History (coursework) at the UNED (National University of Distance Education). He speaks French and English and combines a technical profile with a results-oriented approach to governance and management.

Throughout his career, he has held senior management positions in leading organizations, moving effectively between industrial, corporate, and institutional sectors. He served as Chief Financial Officer at a capital goods manufacturer (Gairu), and subsequently assumed various responsibilities at IESE—such as Program Director and Associate Secretary General—which allowed him to gain in-depth experience in academic management, organizational leadership, and decision-making structures at high-performing institutions.

His management career also includes leadership positions in large and particularly complex business groups. At Grupo Leche Pascual, he was Managing Director of the Real Estate Division, and at Grupo Celsa, he led the Cables and Wires Division, integrating operations with various group companies (Tycsa, Franco Española de Cables, and Trefilerías Quijano). Later, he became Managing Director of Grupo Riofisa, further developing his experience in the real estate sector and in global business management.

In the academic sphere, José Ignacio has held strategic roles at Nebrija University, where he served as Vice-Rector for Administration and University Development, Director General of the Nebrija Foundation, and Director General of the Business School, participating in both institutional development and the implementation and consolidation of educational projects. He has also served as president and board member of various companies, contributing advisory perspectives, oversight, and strategic guidance.

Furthermore, José Ignacio stands out for his strong entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to develop projects from their very early stages. He has participated in the initial steps and implementation of high-impact educational and business initiatives, contributing strategic vision, management structure, and execution capabilities: from educational projects such as UNIR and Nebrija University itself, to entrepreneurship-oriented initiatives such as the European Institute of Entrepreneurship, helping to transform ideas and plans into operational, sustainable, and scalable organizations.

Alongside his executive role, he has developed a consulting practice focused on studies and diagnostics, strategy definition, information systems and management control, and feasibility studies in industrial and service sectors. His experience also includes his involvement in the launch of a private distance learning university, a project requiring a clear vision of the model, an operational structure, and the capacity for sustained execution. In academia, he has taught in the Department of Marketing at IESE, solidifying a profile that combines managerial experience with knowledge transfer.

Beyond his official positions, his work has extended to advising and consulting for companies in various sectors—services, industry, chemicals, construction, and media—and also to public speaking, as a radio commentator and columnist for print media. He is also a co-founder of the European Institute for Entrepreneurship (EIE) and the Institute for Digital Competence (ICD) , reflecting a continued focus on promoting entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and the transformation associated with new professional skills.

Chief Financial Officer — Gairu (capital goods)

Director of Programs — IESE, University of Navarra

Associate Secretary General — IESE, University of Navarra

General Manager, Real Estate Division — Pascual Milk Group

Commercial Director, Cables and Wires Division — Celsa Group (Tycsa, Franco Española de Cables, Trefilerías Quijano)

General Manager — Riofisa Group (real estate)

Vice-Rector of Administration and University Development — Nebrija University

Director General — Nebrija Foundation

Director General — Business School, Nebrija University

President — NEINOR

President and member of the Board of Directors (BOD) — several companies