The businessman and former senior official of the Administration Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros has died this Saturday at the age of 82. Espinosa de los Monteros, who was president of Iberia and father of the former Vox leader Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, developed much of his career both in the public sector and in the corporate world, where he focused on the international projection of Spain.
Trained in Law at the Universidad Complutense and in Business Administration at ICADE, between 2012 and 2018 he was appointed by the Council of Ministers as the first High Commissioner of the Government for Brand Spain. From this position, he promoted the strategy aimed at coordinating and strengthening the reputation and external image of the country.
Throughout his career, he served as the commercial counselor of Spain in Chicago and held the positions of commercial director and vice president of the National Institute of Industry. In the private sector, he presided over Iberia and Aviaco, as well as Mercedes Benz Spain, Daimler-Chrysler, and González-Byass. He also led the Círculo de Empresarios and the automotive employers' association ANFAC, and participated in the governing bodies of companies such as Inditex, Acciona, and Schindler.
The former secretary general of Vox, Javier Ortega Smith, has expressed his sorrow for the death of Espinosa de los Monteros, whom he described as "a great father, a great person, a patriot, and an extraordinary professional." "We will pray for him, although I am sure he is already in heaven," he stated on the social network X, to which Iván Espinosa de los Monteros replied with a "thank you very much, dear Javier."
Likewise, the Atenea foundation, linked to his son Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, has publicly expressed its condolences and has highlighted the deceased's career as "an exemplary figure, whose trajectory, professionalism, and commitment leave an indelible mark and whose legacy will remain alive in those who had the fortune to share a path with him."