Josep Piqué in favor of locating and managing talent as a competitiveness factor

Josep Piqué, OHL’s CEO and Second Vice-Chairman, has participated in the presentation Choiseul 100 Spain 2016 Economic Leader for Tomorrow, held on 6 April at Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid, introducing the first study to include a selection of one hundred young Spanish entrepreneurs with the greatest potential. The act has been arranged by the Choiseul Institute, an independent “think tank” involved in analyzing international matters and global economic governance. The personalities participating in the act included the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Telefónica Foundation, Emilio Gilolmo, and the Chairman of the Choiseul Institute, Eduardo Olier.

Josep Piqué, in his closing speech, referred to the importance of human capital in enterprises, amongst other matters, and to the need to locate professionals constituting future business elites, with awareness of the world’s greatest challenges in order to take them on with the maximum guarantees. This is why he considers that enterprises must establish talent identification policies. He referred to OHL as an example, which has established a human resources policy that “goes beyond staff management” and which is promoting talent location and management plans; according to OHL’s CEO, this talent should be backed up by other huge values such as honesty or ethics, in order to achieve excellence. “I am convinced that there is no shortcut for progress, when it is based on honesty or ethics”.

Global challenges 

Focusing on the huge challenges we are currently facing, OHL’s CEO reflected on the global geostrategic situation and highlighted the lack of economic governance in a scenario of huge geopolitical uncertainty; he referred to the conflicts in the Middle East and energy-related tension that is causing a great imbalance.

During his speech, Josep Piqué also reflected on the role currently played by Europe and pointed out the need to “reactivate its positioning in foreign policy matters” related to defense strategy, monetary policy or security. On this last point, he referred to the Schengen Agreement and the “need to ensure the free movement of persons”. 

Digital revolution 

Looking at Spain, Josep Piqué referred to its positioning with respect to other European Union countries and highlighted that Spain’s GDP ended 2015 with a 3.2% increase, 1.9% more than for the European Union overall, 1.7% in Germany or 1.2% in France. In this regard, he specified that “a country’s worth is generated by its society, the effort made by its people”. In order to improve Spain’s competitiveness he said it was essential to support the “digital revolution”; “competitiveness in any country, particularly in Spain, should be based on digital competitiveness as an engine for future growth”. 

Josep Piqué during his speech.