HIS LIFE
His origins
Luis Valls was born in Barcelona on June 5, 1926. At that time, Spain was undergoing significant changes that would shape the country’s future, both politically and socially. In this context, the Valls family celebrated the arrival of their fifth child.
Barcelona, t’estimo molt (Barcelona, I love you very much)
Barcelona was always a very beloved city for Luis Valls, although he did not live there for many years. When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, his parents decided to move the entire family to Italy. Once the conflict ended three years later, he returned to Barcelona with his parents and siblings and remained there until he completed his university studies.
Curious Coincidences
By one of those quirks of fate, the same year that Luis Valls was born (specifically, forty days later), the Banco Popular de los Previsores del Porvenir was founded in Madrid. It would become the Banco Popular Español, which Luis Valls was to join and preside over for decades. Luis Valls was not a typical banker; he had a humanistic spirit and loved reading and writing—he was an avid reader and a skilled writer . He had his own style of banking, always doing things his way; he was constantly concerned with (and engaged in) social action. In a word, he sought to contribute to a better society.
A Pure Gemini
Half-jokingly, Luis Valls said he felt very identified with his zodiac sign. In an interview with Luis Ángel de la Viuda 1 , he told the story himself. Sitting at his desk in the Beatriz Building, with his half-smile, a unique tone of voice, and that Catalan accent that remained with him after more than 50 years living in Madrid, he explained: “I was born in the last third of spring when the sun was passing through the celestial zone of Gemini, the sign of duality, the sign of intellectuality, the sign of concrete things.” A Gemini who, despite being a successful man, wanted to lead the simplest of lives; as a philanthropist, he sought to do everything without anyone noticing, and as a humanist, he enjoyed knowing a lot while speaking little. In his various facest of this life, these dualities were constantly evident.
1926
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1936 (August 9) Family flees the war and moves to Italy
Family flees the war and moves to Italy -
1937 Return to Spain (to Córdoba, then to Logroño)
Return to Spain (to Córdoba, then to Logroño) -
1939 Returned to Barcelona on January 26th when the Nationalist forces entered the Catalan city
They returned to Barcelona on January 26th when the Nationalist forces entered the Catalan city -
1944 (uncertain: 1943?) Begins Law studies at the University of Barcelona
Begins Law studies at the University of Barcelona -
1945 (Easter Week) He requested to be admitted as a member of Opus Dei.
He requested to be admitted as a member of Opus Dei. -
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1952 Appointed deputy head of publications at CSIC and teaches as an assistant professor of Political Economy at the Faculty of Law in Madrid.
Appointed deputy head of publications at CSIC and teaches as an assistant professor of Political Economy at the Faculty of Law in Madrid. -
1953 Agrees with his uncle, Félix Millet, to buy his stake in BPE.
Agrees with his uncle, Félix Millet, to buy his stake in BPE. -
From 1953 to 1956 Restructures the BPE board, separating administration from management. Seeks investors to buy Millet’s and other directors’ stakes.
Restructures the BPE board, separating administration from management. Seeks investors to buy Millet's and other directors' stakes. -
1955 His thesis on “The Assignment of Contracts in Spanish Law” is published.
His thesis on "The Assignment of Contracts in Spanish Law" is published. -
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1971 Carrero Blanco orders the closure of Diario Madrid
Carrero Blanco orders the closure of Diario Madrid -
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1975 Inauguration of the Beatriz Building and relocation of the President’s Office there
Inauguration of the Beatriz Building and relocation of the Presidency Office there -
1976 Seeking efficiency, he undertakes a major reform at BPE: streamlines central services and reduces intermediate levels between senior management and branches
Seeking efficiency, he undertakes a major reform at BPE: streamlines central services and reduces intermediate levels between senior management and branches -
1977 Establishes the BPE Customer Services Office, the first of its kind in Spanish banking.
Establishes the BPE Customer Service Office, the first of its kind in Spanish banking. -
Between 1979 and 1980 Increases the bank’s liquidity by selling off his stakes in seven European and Ibero-American banks
Increases the bank's liquidity by selling off his stakes in seven European and Ibero-American banks -
Between 1987 and 1988 Welcomes eight new board members, including Allianz and a number of Spanish companies such as Cementos Molins, Prosegur, or Equimóvil. Additionally, strengthens the Shareholders’ Syndicate, which accounts for 12% of the capital.
Welcomes eight new board members, including Allianz and a series of Spanish companies such as Cementos Molins, Prosegur, or Equimóvil. Additionally, strengthens the Shareholders' Syndicate, which reaches 12% of the capital. -
1989 The British bank rating agency IBCA highlights BPE for the first time as the most profitable bank in the world.
The British bank rating agency IBCA highlights BPE for the first time as the most profitable bank in the world. -
1990 (December issue) Euromoney magazine names BPE “The best bank in the world.”
Euromoney magazine names BPE "The best bank in the world." -
1990 The well known American analyst G. Walden, in his work “The 100 best stocks in the world,” includes only one Spanish stock, BPE.
The famous American analyst G. Walden, in his work "The 100 best stocks in the world," includes only one Spanish stock, BPE. -
1990 - 95 Tops the list of the world’s most profitable banks annually compiled by the British bank rating agency IBCA.
Tops the list of the world's most profitable banks annually compiled by the British bank rating agency IBCA. -
2000 Gradually begins to step into the background
Begins to step back into the background slowly -
2004 october Resigns from his position, leaving the presidency of BPE in the hands of Ángel Ron
Dimite de su cargo dejando la presidencia del BPE en manos de Ángel Ron -
2006
1926 (june 5) 1936 (August 9)193719391944 (uncertain: 1943?)1945 (Easter Week)1948 1949 1952 1952 1953 From 1953 to 19561955 1957196219711972197519761977Between 1979 and 1980Between 1987 and 198819891990 (December issue)19901990 - 9520002004 october 2006 (febraury 25)
Bibliography
Interview conducted by Luis Ángel de Viuda with Luis Valls. TVE, March 2, 1977
