Born in Barakaldo (Vizcaya), 5th of March 1951. Mr. Villalabeitia holds a law and economics degree from the University of Deusto (Bilbao). Mr. Villalabeitia is currently member the Board of Directors of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Chile and Chairman of de A.F.P. Provida, S.A. He is also member of the Board of Telef�nica Internacional, S.A., Iberia L�neas A�reas de Espa�a, S.A. and IBV, and member of Seeligar y Conde in Madrid. He began his profesional career in the International Netcom of Banco de Vizcaya, of such Bank, later becoming Deputy Manager of the London Branch and Local Deputy Manager in Valencia and Madrid. He has been General Manager of Caja de Ahorros Vizca�na and Chief Executive of Banco Cooperativo Espa�ol. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Banco de Cr�dito Local and was Chief Executive Officer of Caja Postal in January 1995. Following the merger of the various entities of Argentaria, he was named Wholesale Banking General Manager in 1998. In October 1999, after the merger of Argentaria and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya (BBV), he was appointed as General Manager of Global Investment Banking of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), and after the restructuring in December 2001 he was appointed General Manager of the Real Estate and Industrial Group of the bank. He has also been member of the Board of the Companies Repsol and Gas Natural. |