Fighting the coronavirus in business

This session of Aspen Ideas, the debate series on contemporary issues held throughout the year, took place on the 7th of April and covered “Fighting the coronavirus in business“.  Santiago Barrenechea, President of the PwC Foundation Spain and board member of Aspen Institute España, and Román Escolano, professor at CUNEF, Senior advisor for Economic Economic Context at Llorente y Cuenca and the former Minister of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness in Spain presented the debate.

Aspen Institute España´s civic mission is more important now than ever.  In trying times like these our society needs spaces where individuals can reflect and dialogue about the future and how to come out of the current crisis from the perspective of a values-based leadership committed to democratic ideals.

Speakers

Román Escolano (@roman_escolano), professor at CUNEF, former Minister of Economy, Industry, and Competetiveness in Spain (2018), Vice President of the European Investment Bank from 2014 to 2018, and president of the Instituto de Crédito Oficial from 2012 to 2014

Santiago Barrenechea graduated in Law from the University of Deusto and has a degree in EEC studies from the same University as well as Master in Tax Advisory Management from the Instituto de Empresa, Madrid. In the field of teaching and publications Santiago has made contributions to the International Tax Review, is professor of the Spanish Business Institute and the Centro de Estudios Financieros in Spain teaching International Taxation seminars on real estate issues and Tax Strategy. Likewise, he is a regular lecturer at tax seminars and symposiums. Santiago began his career as Auditor of Price Waterhouse in 1985. He has been a partner of the Tax and Legal Division since January 1999. He was Managing Director of the northern Spanish region of PwC offices in 2001 and in 2005 was appointed managing director of the Madrid office as well as leader of the Spanish Real Estate tax practice. From 2009 through 2013 he was appointed Tax & Legal Country Service Leader for Spain and in 2013 was named head of the Latin American Center of Excellence (LACoE) which is based in Madrid, managing tax and legal services to clients holding interests in Latin America. Santiago is specialized in national and international investment funds, tax issues, institutional and private, Spanish and foreign investors. He has been Head of Human Capital for PwC Spain until 2018. Currently, Santiago is President of the PwC Foundation, as well as Head of Tax Reporting Strategy for Spain.