CEO Today Global Awards

25 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Global Awards 2019 spain JOSÉ MARÍA ÁLVAREZ-PALLETE LÓPEZ CEO of Telefónica SA FIRM PROFILE Telefónica is a company that is aware of the new challenges posed by today’s society. This is why we offer the means to facilitate communication between people, providing them with the most secure and state of the art technology in order for them to live better, and for them to achieve whatever they resolve. An innovative and attentive spirit with an immense technological potential that multiplies the ability to choose of its more than 346 million clients. Telefónica operate in 17 countries and has a presence in 24, with and an average of 127,000 professionals. In January-December 2017 Telefónica had consolidated revenues of 52,008 million euros and more than 343.4 million total accesses, 271.7 million mobile phones accesses, 21.4 million Internet and data accesses and 8.5 million pay TV accesses. Telefónica is a 100% listed company with more than 1.3 million shareholders, traded in several of the most important stock markets around the world. We are optimists. We believe in the enormous potential that technology can offer to people, to businesses and to society. But also, we are aware that this digital revolution brings with it uncertainties that make us question the role of technology in our lives. Technology should bring us together…not pull us apart. It should enhance our lives…not take over. It should allow us to share experiences and opinions…not hide behind them. At Telefónica, we believe it’s people that give purpose to technology. And not the other way around. At a time when technology is more present than ever in our lives, we cannot forget that the most important connection is human connection. Because in today’s society, quality of life largely depends on that connection. And that is where we come in. Offering a connection that unites people instead of isolating them; a connection that invites people to be themselves, to express themselves, to share. A connection that can be controlled and that guarantees security, integrity and dignity of each human being as well as the group that they belong to. Helping people, businesses and societies to be united, to thrive and enjoy. ABOUT JOSÉ MARÍA ÁLVAREZ- PALLETE LÓPEZ Born in Madrid in 1963. Mr. Álvarez-Pallete has a degree in Economics from the Complutense University of Madrid. He also studied Economics at the Université Libre of Brussels (Belgium), holds an International Management Programme (IMP) from IPADE Business School and an Advance Research Degree from the Complutense University of Madrid. In February 1999 he joined the Telefónica Group as Chief Financial Officer of Telefónica Internacional S.A.U., and in September of the same year he became Chief Financial Officer of Telefónica S.A. In July 2002, he was appointed Executive Chairman of Telefónica Internacional S.A.; in July 2006, General Manager of Telefónica Latinoamérica, and in March 2009 Chairman of Telefónica Latinoamérica. In September 2011 he was named Executive Chairman of Telefónica Europe. And in September 2012 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Telefónica S.A. Since April 8th 2016 he is Chairman & CEO of Telefónica S.A. and Member of the Board of Telefónica S.A., position he holds since July 2006. He began his professional career at Arthur Young Auditors in 1987, before joining Benito & Monjardín/Kidder, Peabody & Co. in 1988. After this, in 1995, he joined the Compañía Valenciana de Cementos Portland (CEMEX) as head of the Investor Relations and Analysis Department. In 1996, he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in Spain, and in 1998 to Chief Administration and Finance Officer of the CEMEX Group Indonesia and to member of the Board of CEMEX Asia Ltd.