10/06/2019

The Chairman of the CLH Group, José Luis López de Silanes, receives the distinction of Riojano Ilustre

  • The distinction was awarded during the celebration of the Day of La Rioja

The chairman of the CLH Group and of the Social Council of the University of La Rioja, José Luis López Silanes, received last Sunday the distinction of Distinguished Citizen of La Rioja, awarded by the Regional Government of La Rioja, in San Millán de la Cogolla.

The ceremony was held in the Herrerian-style courtyard of the Monastery of Yuso in San Millán de la Cogolla and was attended by many regional authorities and other distinguished guests celebrating the Day of La Rioja.

In his speech, López de Silanes thanked “the people of La Rioja, its regional government and its president for such distinction, which is one of the greatest satisfactions I could receive as a person born in La Rioja”.

Furthermore, he highlighted that “this distinction is very special to me, as I have tried during my career to remain close to La Rioja and to contribute to its economic and social development. I honestly hope I can be worthy of this award”.

José Luis López de Silanes, born in Haro (La Rioja), is an Industrial Engineer and also completed the Management Development Program (PDD) at the IESE School.

He is currently the chairman of the CLH Group and of the Social Council of the University of La Rioja. He is also honorary chairman of the Campus of International Excellence of the Ebro Valley, Campus Iberus.

He started out in CAMPSA (now CLH) and, throughout his career, he has held other senior positions in the energy sector in companies such as Gas Natural and Enagás, where he served as CEO, and in Repsol, where he created and led the central engineering office upon the creation of the corporate group.

He has also received several recognitions, such as the distinction of the Order of Civil Merit, awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the “Gold Medal” from the Chamber of Commerce of La Rioja and an Honourable Mention as “Industrial Engineer of the Year” from the Professional Association of Industrial Engineers of Madrid (COIIM).