Juan-Miguel Villar Mir, appointed academic member of the Royal Academy of Moral and Political Science

Juan-Miguel Villar Mir has been elected an associate academic by the plenary meeting of the Royal Academy of Moral and Political Science [“Real Academia de Ciencias Morales y Políticas” (RACMYP)], with medal 37.

A businessman and university professor, Juan-Miguel Villar Mir is the founder and president of the Villar Mir Group, which is present in over 30 countries all over the world.

He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering- with first class honors- and a Degree in Law. He has always been closely related to university teaching and has lectured as a professor in Business Organization and Management at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

He also completed a Higher Course in Business Administration at the Industrial Organization School of Madrid, and holds a Diploma in Economics from the World Bank Economic Development Institute (Washington). He is the former president and honorary member of the Spanish Association of Civil Engineers and is the author of many publications.

When he held the post of Vice-President of the Government for Economic Affairs and Minister of Finance in the first Government of the Monarchy (1975-1976), his aim was to contain the serious economic situation and to encourage modernization/reform to homogenize the Spanish tax system with Europe’s.

Before running his own business, he chaired the Board and worked as senior executive, over a 22-year career, in various companies (Hidro-Nitro, Cementos del Cinca, Carbonífera del Sur, Altos Hornos de Vizcaya, Altos Hornos del Mediterráneo, Empresa Nacional de Celulosas, Electra de Viesgo and Puerto Sotogrande).

In 2011, His Majesty the King Juan Carlos awarded him the title of Marquis of Villar Mir “due to his outstanding and long-term service to Spain and the Crown”. Amongst other distinctions, in 2010 he became Chévalier of the Légion d’Honneur, the highest award granted in France, for his outstanding task in strengthening commercial ties between France and Spain.

Furthermore, he is an associate academic of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Academy of Economics & Finance, and holds a position as founder and trustee in many highly relevant foundations and institutions, such as the Príncipe de Asturias Foundation and the Amigos del Museo del Prado Foundation, amongst many others.