8th APD Leaders' Congress
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The event
Think differently, be competitive together in a disordered world. On the occasion of its 70th anniversary, APD is organizing its 8th Leaders' Congress: two days of collective reflection bringing together national and international business leaders, experts and institutions around the major competitiveness challenges of the next decade: geopolitics, technology and AI, leadership, financing, talent, innovation, energy, productivity and business transformation. Day 1 (October 28): understanding the world, anticipating its changes and building smarter alliances between businesses, territories and institutions. Day 2 (October 29): Spain, Europe and our businesses - moving from diagnosis to priorities, with the presentation of the APD Competitiveness Decalogue. Under the honorary presidency of His Majesty King Felipe VI.
On the agenda
Badge Pickup
Participant check-in and badge pickup.
Welcome
Laura González-Molero, President of APD. Congress Host: Vicente Vallés (ATRESMEDIA).
New benchmarks for global competitiveness
Block 1 - Understanding the world, anticipating its transformations: competitiveness in a disordered world. Speaker: Antonio Vázquez, President IAG/Iberia (2009-2021).
Round Table: Geoeconomics and Business on the World Stage
Moderator: Manuel Balmaseda (CUNEF Universidad). Speakers: Román Escolano (former Minister of Economy), Andrés Allamand (SEGIB), Alejandro Beltrán (McKinsey).
Round table: Geopolitics and business: how to stay competitive in a world without clear rules or stable allies?
Moderator: Cecilia Yuste, diplomat, former Ambassador of Spain to Belgium. Speakers: Judith Arnal (Real Instituto Elcano), Luis Megías (BlackRock Iberia), Florentino Portero (historian).
APD Awards for contributing to management progress and improving executive function
APD 2026 Honorary Award presented to Antonio Garrigues Walker. Award presentation: Rafael Miranda (Honorary President of the APD) and Laura González-Molero (President of the APD).
Coffee Networking
Security and Competitiveness in the New World Order
Speaker: Javier Colomina, Deputy Secretary General delegated to political affairs and security policy, Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for the Southern Neighbourhood.
Technological Sovereignty and AI: Keys to the Future
Speaker: Borja Ochoa, President of Telefónica España.
Round table: Sovereignty and critical dependencies: the new logic of global corporate power
Moderation: Jacobo Hornedo (AON). Speakers: Javier Targhetta (Atlantic Copper), Pablo Semolinos (TotalEnergies).
Strategic Alliances: From Global Vision to Country Competitiveness
Block 2 - Building smarter alliances between companies, territories and institutions. Speaker: Francisco Botas, Chief Executive Officer of ABANCA.
The power of the team: how culture transforms talent into competitive advantage
Block 3 - Talent in the global company. Speakers: Luis de la Fuente (national football coach), José Ignacio Goirigolzarri (INDITEX), Laura González-Molero (APD).
Networking Lunch
Growing to be competitive: size, investment and future vision
Block 4 - Competitiveness and new rules: strategy, risk and technology. Speaker: Juan Miguel Martínez Gabaldón, General Manager of GULLÓN.
Competitiveness in a World of New Dependencies
Speaker: Maarten Wetselaar, Chief Executive Officer of MOEVE.
From Globalization to Strategic Autonomy. Business Challenges
Speakers: Alejandro Pociña (STEELCASE), Abel Matutes (Palladium Hotel Group).
Round Table: AI, Data and Technological Scale: The New Frontier of Competitiveness
Moderator: Luis Miguel Alcedo (CRESTA AI). Speakers: Eva García San Luis (Fujitsu Wayfinders), José Manuel Petisco (NetApp), Álex Romero (Alto Intelligence).
Day Summary and Closing
Vicente Vallés, Director and Presenter (ATRESMEDIA).
Networking Cocktail
Taking the stage
Where it happens
Palacio Municipal de Congresos IFEMA MADRID - Av. de la Capital de España, 5, Barajas, 28042
Madrid