Juan-Miguel Villar Mir awarded the Grand Cross of the Orden del Dos de Mayo

May 10, 2011

Juan-Miguel Villar Mir has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Orden del Dos de Mayo, a special Order created by the regional government of Madrid. Esperanza Aguirre, president of the Community of Madrid, awarded the Order’s highest distinction in recognition of Mr. Villar Mir as a professor and entrepreneur “for his constant efforts to promote job creation and wealth, strengthening innovation and the internationalization of his companies, and achieving that the Community of Madrid and Spain are identified with excellence and competitiveness.”

Speaking on behalf of the recipients of Community of Madrid Medals and the decorations of the Orden del Dos de Mayo, the chairman of Grupo Villar Mir expressed the gratitude of the winners on such a significant day as the 2nd of May, when we commemorate, he said, “the will to overcome and progress of the people of Madrid, facing an invasion of overwhelmingly superior forces with truly heroic actions.”

Juan-Miguel Villar Mir referred to the excellent economic position of the Region of Madrid within Spain as a whole. He highlighted that the Community is a favorite destination of all the investment we put into our country with more than 71% of the total in this parliamentary term. In addition, Madrid is already providing one out of every five euros of economic activity in Spain and one in four companies formed in our country were launched in Madrid.

Other recipients of the Grand Cross of the Orden del Dos de Mayo include biochemist and medical oncologist Dr. Mariano Barbacid, entrepreneur and president of Real Madrid Soccer Club, Florentino Perez, the singer Enrique Morente, posthumously, the entrepreneur Francisco Daurella Franco and Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, among others.

Other awards included the Silver Medal of the Community of Madrid, which went to the independent political commentator and politician, Pablo Castellano, the president of Institución Educativa SEK and Camilo José University, Felipe Segovia and the Association against Kidney Disease (Alcer Madrid), among others.

In her speech, the President of the Community of Madrid highlighted that the awards and medals of the Community recognize the work of those people and institutions that, in a unique way, have distinguished themselves for their services and contributions to the people of Madrid. The president expressed the gratitude and admiration of all of the people of Madrid for the contributions and efforts of the winners.