The president of Iberdrola states that the company faces "the greatest growth prospects in its history."

The executive president of Iberdrola, Ignacio Sánchez Galán, has been distinguished as an honorary fellow by the Madrid College of Economists in a solemn ceremony held at the Paraninfo of the Complutense University. During his speech, Galán stressed that the energy company is at a crucial moment, facing what he described as “the greatest growth prospects in its history.” This optimism is based on the unstoppable rise of electrification, a process the executive considers a historic opportunity for the structural transformation of the European and global economy.

Galán underscored that the transition to a fully electrified model would allow Europe to drastically reduce its dependence on fossil fuel imports, replacing an inefficient energy-spending model with one based on high value-added productive investments. In this sense, Iberdrola’s president estimated that the continent will require annual investments of more than 200 billion euros over the next decade to complete this ambitious transformation. About half of this figure should be allocated as a priority to the modernization, digitalization, and expansion of electricity networks, which act as the backbone of the new energy system.

Regarding Iberdrola’s specific plans, the executive president previewed figures that reflect the company’s solidity. The company expects its investments could reach 80 billion euros over a horizon of barely five years, which would boost the group’s net profit to 10 billion euros annually. These projections coincide with the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the electric utility’s founding, which by 2026 stands as Europe’s largest company in the sector and second worldwide by market capitalization. Currently, the group has assets valued at 165 billion euros and a stock market valuation around 150 billion.

The recognition awarded by the Madrid College of Economists, whose laudatio was delivered by Pablo Hernández de Cos, Director General of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and former governor of the Bank of Spain, highlights Galán’s track record during his 25 years at the helm of the utility. Hernández de Cos praised the executive’s extraordinary foresight in decisively betting on renewable energies and electrification long before they became priorities on the global climate agenda. For her part, the dean of the College, Amelia Pérez Zabaleta, emphasized Galán’s contribution not only to the company’s success and Iberdrola’s international expansion but also to prosperity, job creation, and Spain’s economic cohesion.

Galán concluded his speech by reaffirming the company’s founding values — effort, integrity, loyalty, and commitment — as the unwavering pillars that have enabled Iberdrola to navigate the deep technological and market changes for more than a century. The executive stressed that, although technologies and markets have evolved dramatically since 1901, honoring one’s word and teamwork remain the fundamental engines for success and long-term sustainability. He also took the opportunity to remind the forum that regulatory stability and a predictable investment framework are essential to mobilize the enormous amounts of capital needed for the total decarbonization of the economy.