Josep Oliu
Josep Oliu i Creus | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Sabadell, Spain |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Chairman of Banc Sabadell since 1999 |
Josep Oliu i Creus (born 1949 in Sabadell) is a prominent economist and entrepreneur, holding the position of chairman at Banc Sabadell since 1999.
Biography
As the son of entrepreneur Joan Oliu i Pich, Josep Oliu has played a pivotal role in shaping Catalonia's economic environment and has been instrumental in consolidating Banco Sabadell’s status within Spain’s banking industry.
He earned his degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona and completed his doctorate at the University of Minnesota. His professional journey includes significant appointments at the Bank of Spain and leadership responsibilities at the Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) prior to joining Banco Sabadell in 1986. Since assuming the chairmanship in 1999, he has overseen the bank’s strategic growth through acquisitions during the early 2000s, navigated its challenges during the 2008 financial crisis, and broadened its international footprint. In 2025, he orchestrated the return of the bank’s headquarters to Catalonia following its relocation to Alicante in 2017 due to political instability. Additionally, Oliu was influential in guiding corporate governance amid BBVA’s proposed takeover of Banco Sabadell.
Outside his responsibilities at Banc Sabadell, he was named president of Fundación Banco Sabadell in 2024, an organization dedicated to fostering cultural, scientific, and youth-oriented projects. His board memberships have included Puig, and he has served as non-executive president of Exea Empresarial. His engagement also extends to various nonprofit and advisory entities such as the Princess of Girona Foundation, the Princess of Asturias Foundation, and Fundación de Estudios de Economía Aplicada (FEDEA).