8th APD Leaders' Congress

8th APD Leaders' Congress

Oct 28 - Thursday, October 29, 2026Palacio Municipal de Congresos IFEMA MADRID - Av. de la Capital de España, 5, Barajas, 28042 - Madrid
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The event

About

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

Program

Wednesday, October 28

  1. 08:20 - 09:15

    Badge Pickup

    Participant check-in and badge pickup.

  2. 09:15 - 09:30

    Welcome

    Laura González-Molero, President of APD. Congress Host: Vicente Vallés (ATRESMEDIA).

    , 
  3. 09:30 - 09:45

    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).

  4. 09:45 - 10:30

    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).

    , , , 
  5. 10:30 - 11:00

    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).

    , , , 
  6. 11:00 - 11:20

    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).

  7. 11:20 - 12:00

    Coffee Networking

  8. 12:00 - 12:25

    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.

  9. 12:25 - 12:40

    Technological Sovereignty and AI: Keys to the Future

    Speaker: Borja Ochoa, President of Telefónica España.

  10. 12:40 - 13:10

    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).

    , , 
  11. 13:10 - 13:40

    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.

  12. 13:40 - 14:15

    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).

    , , 
  13. 14:15 - 16:00

    Networking Lunch

  14. 16:00 - 16:20

    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.

  15. 16:20 - 16:40

    Competitiveness in a World of New Dependencies

    Speaker: Maarten Wetselaar, Chief Executive Officer of MOEVE.

  16. 16:40 - 17:10

    From Globalization to Strategic Autonomy. Business Challenges

    Speakers: Alejandro Pociña (STEELCASE), Abel Matutes (Palladium Hotel Group).

    , 
  17. 17:10 - 17:45

    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).

    , , , 
  18. 17:45 - 18:00

    Day Summary and Closing

    Vicente Vallés, Director and Presenter (ATRESMEDIA).

  19. 18:00 - 19:00

    Networking Cocktail

Taking the stage

Speakers

Event Presidency

2

Master of Ceremonies

1

Keynote Speakers

10

Speakers

1

Moderators

8

Panelists

34

They support us

Partners & sponsors

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNER

Ayuntamiento de Madrid
Comunidad de Madrid

GOLD

ABANCA
The Adecco Group
AON
AuraQuantic
CRESTA
Gullón
Lilly

SILVER

AEGGA
FETICO
Fujitsu
ICO - Instituto de Crédito Oficial
Inserta (Fundación ONCE) - Fondos Europeos
MAPFRE
Naturgy
Peoplematters
Prodware
Telefónica
Steelcase
Valorian

PARTNER

LANBU
SegurCaixa Adeslas
Think UPC
Croft Twist
Garrigues

SPONSOR

Exec Avenue
Fabrika
LKS Next

ORGANISER

APD

TECHNOLOGY PARTNER

OnEvent

Where it happens

Location

Palacio Municipal de Congresos IFEMA MADRID - Av. de la Capital de España, 5, Barajas, 28042

Madrid

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