Francisco Luzón
Francisco Luzón López | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1948 El Cañavate, Spain |
| Died | 17 February 2021 (aged 73) Madrid, Spain |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, banker, professor |
| Years active | 1972–2013 |
| Known for | Leadership roles at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Banco Santander; founder of Fundación Francisco Luzón |
Francisco Luzón López (born 1 January 1948 – passed away 17 February 2021) was a prominent Spanish economist and banker who significantly influenced the evolution of banking in Spain and Latin America over a span of thirty years. He held leadership positions at major financial institutions including Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and Banco Santander. After being diagnosed with ALS in 2013, he established the Fundación Francisco Luzón to advance ALS research initiatives.
Biography
Originating from El Cañavate, Luzón secured a merit-based scholarship to study at the University of the Basque Country's College of Business and Economics. His professional journey in banking commenced at Banco de Vizcaya in 1972, where he advanced to the role of Director by 1987. The following year, he orchestrated the merger between Banco de Vizcaya and Banco de Bilbao, resulting in the creation of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), serving as its inaugural director.
In 1989, under the appointment of Minister Carlos Solchaga, Luzón assumed leadership of Banco Exterior de España. He was named President of Argentaria in 1991, overseeing the consolidation of six Spanish banks and directing its privatization process from 1993 until 1998, during which the institution’s value grew by 800 billion pesetas. Joining Banco Santander in 1996 as Director and General Deputy Director under Emilio Botín’s presidency, he was instrumental in the 1999 merger that formed Banco Santander Central Hispano and played a key role in expanding Santander’s footprint across ten Latin American countries through strategic acquisitions.
Luzón demonstrated a strong commitment to social progress by leading foundations such as Fundación Banco Exterior de España and Fundación Argentaria. From 1996 to 2008, he chaired the Social Council at the University of Castilla–La Mancha and promoted higher education in Latin America through Universia, a network linking over 19 million students and educators across Spanish-speaking universities. Additionally, he supported Fudis, an initiative dedicated to executive-level professional development in Latin America.
Upon retiring from Banco Santander Central Hispano in 2013 with a pension totaling €65 million—of which 52% was allocated to Spain’s Ministry of Finance—Luzón shifted focus to academia as a professor at China Europe International Business School located in Shanghai. His leadership extended to serving as Vice-President of the Biblioteca Nacional de España and as President of ICADE (Catholic Institute of Business Administration). He also contributed his expertise as an advisor to Georgetown University’s Latin American Council, Yale University’s Global Advisory Council, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Stability Mechanism, and governmental bodies in Puerto Rico.
Throughout his career, Luzón earned several prestigious accolades: the Medal of Merit in Labour (2011), an honorary doctorate from the University of Castilla–La Mancha (2011), recognition from Empresarial de América Latina (2016), and the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise for his dedication to education and research (2016).
He passed away at age 73 due to ALS in Madrid on 17 February 2021.