The first thesis on Luis Valls was defended by Jaime Díez, although, as he states, “it is not a thesis on Luis Valls, but rather a thesis on what Luis Valls did and said publicly.”

Jaime asserts the “enormous consistency and integrity” he found while studying the Barcelona banker. Díez recounts that “he was always outward-facing,” which is why one of his traits is austerity, although others claim it is kindness. However, according to the doctor, “Valls is as he defines himself, an ascetic of concrete ideas,” but Jaime Díez goes further, and when asked to define Valls in one word, he chooses “a creative.”

In the extensive bibliography and documents that Díez has studied, he recalls a phrase by a journalist who claimed, “To know Luis Valls is to brush against enigma, prudence, and the spark of genius.” Another testimony from someone close to him was, “Luis Valls is not repeatable, but his way of doing business is.”

Getting to know Luis Valls requires much effort, although Jaime affirms that “as an object he is transparent and truly universal.”

Valls assured that the Foundations and Banco Popular carry out the same activity but from a different perspective. Díez adds, “It was about discovering the needs of the environment and ensuring they were not left unresolved due to economic problems, at least in proportion.”

One of his characteristics is transparency because, as he assured, “everything will come to light; do not make a decision you would be ashamed of if it were published on the front page of a newspaper.”

The doctor highlights the flexibility of the bank’s structure, which is adapted to the client’s needs. In this vein, Díez says that Valls understood the advisor as “someone who solves problems, who helps,” but the Catalan banker understood that he only intervened when asked for help, and once that person could fly, he would let them continue their journey alone.

The relationship with the press is another aspect highlighted in the thesis because, among other things, seeing Valls meant obtaining excellent information.

Finally, Jaime Díez emphasizes that Valls always wanted to stay connected with reality, hence his habit of visiting clients and employees.