Technical Engineer

He was born in Bergara in 1937 and studied Occupational Training at the Occupational Centre in Bergara.

At the age of 17 he started his first job at the Unión Cerrajera in Bergara. He stayed with this company for seven years. At the same time he studied Industrial Engineering at Mondragón Polytechnic College, and he obtained his degree at the School of Industrial Engineers in San Sebastián.

He also studied Economics and Engineering.

In finishing his industrial engineering studies he started work at Mondragón Polytechnic College as a Lecturer, and one year later he was appointed as Director, a position he held from 1962 to 1975.

In 1975 he moved on to run HEZIBIDE ELKARTEA, collaborating in the creation of the Alto Deba University Colleges and coordinating the valley's educational system.

Also in 1975, he took on the Presidency of IKERLAN, Research Centre, in its phase of creation and consolidation. Throughout 1979, he collaborated with the Pre-Autonomous Basque Regional Government, in the Department of Education.

From 1979 to 1982 he held the position of Regional Vice-Minister for Education of the Basque Regional Government, actively participating in the negotiation of transfers and in setting up the Basque Educational Authority.

From 1982, he was the Director of the Business Division of Caja Laboral Popular, working on the promotion of new cooperatives as well as re-channelling situations derived from the economic crisis and in the modernisation of business management.

In 1989, with the setting up of LKS, Consultancy and Engineering company, he became the Managing Director of the company and President of AUDILAN, SDAD. COOP., an auditing company.

From the month of April 1991 to September 1992 he was the Managing Director of SPRI, Sociedad para la Promoción y Reconversión Industrial, S.A., when he was also appointed Regional Vice-Minister of Industry and Energy of the Basque Regional Government and CEO of SPRI.

On 4th January 1995 he was appointed Regional Minister of Industry, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government, a position he held until December 1998.

In January 1999 he rejoined MCC as Director of the Department of Technological Development and Quality of MCC, Mondragón Corporación Cooperativa and in May of the same year he also took on the post of Lord Rector of Mondragón Unibertsitatea. He carried out the functions of both posts until 31st January 2002, when he retired.

He was President of Eusko Ikaskuntza-Society of Basque Studies from December 2002 to 2008.

Interview with Euskonews

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