Josep Piqué is a graduate of the Universidad de Barcelona where he was awarded the Extraordinary Prize, he holds a PhD in Economic and Business Sciences with distinction Cum Laude, and also holds a degree in Law. In the area of academia, he has been a Professor of Economic Theory since 1984. He also held the position of Senior Economist in the Research Department of “La Caixa” between 1984 and 1985. In the public arena, Josep Piqué held positions as Minister of Industry and Energy (1996-2000), Government Minister Spokesman (1998-2000), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000-2002) and Minister of Science and Technology (2002-2003). He was a member of the Congress of Deputies, leading the candidacy in the constituency of the Spanish People’s Party in Barcelona between 2000 and 2003. He has also held and occupies notable positions, and is a member of the Board of Directors in various private companies such as Ercros, Vueling, Airbus, VW Group, SEAT, OHL, Alantra, Abengoa, Stadler, Hotusa, Tradisa, ITP Aero, HSF and BCG among others. In the field of civil society, Josep Piqué is a member or patron of various Foundations and Associations: he presides over the Forum and the Spain-Japan Foundation, the Spain-Korea Chamber of Commerce, the Association for the Search for Excellence, the CITPax, the Iberoamericana Empresarial Foundation; he has also held the position of Vice President of the Círculo de Empresarios and President of the Cercle d’Economia.
