One of the unknowns that arose as a result of the CEOE elections has been cleared up. Josep Sánchez Llibre will continue to be vice president of the Spanish employers' association. The doubt arose as a result of the confrontation between Antonio Garamendi and Sánchez Llibre and which became even more acute when Foment promoted the candidacy of Virginia Guinda as a rival for the presidency. In any case, Garamendi emerged stronger from those elections and today he has named his team, and Sánchez Llibre continues as vice president.
The decision of the Board of Directors of the CEOE, at the proposal of Garamendi, comes after a conversation he had this Tuesday with Sánchez Llibre in which they discussed the future situation of the president of Foment, although no details have been disclosed for the moment. "It was a cordial conversation," say close sources. In any case, Sánchez Llibre continues as vice-president, but in a CEOE structure that incorporates a novelty, the creation of a first vice-presidency, which falls to Miguel Garrido, the president of CEIM, the Madrid employers' association, who goes up one step in the hierarchy and is placed as virtual number two. Garrido was considered one of the critics of Garamendi's management, but he was also highlighted as, since the Basque presented his candidacy, both Garrido and the CEIM gave him forceful support. Garrido distanced himself from the critics and has now become the first vice president.
In addition, in the new distribution of tasks, Sánchez Llibre will not handle relations with the Cortes, but will have a vice-presidency without a portfolio. Salvador Navarro, from the Valencian CEV, will take charge of the CEOE commission for relations with the Cortes.
Foment positively values his participation in the new CEOE board, and Sánchez Llibre thanked "the generosity of the president of the CEOE", and added that "we feel satisfied because the CEOE is coming out stronger and more cohesive". He also points out that at the proposal of the Catalan employers' association, two members of its management are incorporated into the executive committee, such as Baldiri Ros (Institut Agrícola Català Sant Isidre) and Santiago García-Nieto (ConfeCat). José María Rodríguez (Asedas), who is also a member of Foment's executive committee, will also form part of the executive committee.
During this morning's meeting, Sánchez Llibre and Garamendi have endeavored to stage a good harmony, which stems from the meeting they held yesterday and which has served to avoid conflict and reach an acceptable outcome for both parties. In this sense, the statement in a positive tone with which Foment has assessed the decisions also goes.
Another novelty in the new team is the incorporation of two new vice presidents, Alejanda Kindelán, president of the AEB, and María Helena Antolín, vice president of Grupo Antolín. The rest of the vice presidents of maintains.
