Vessel Juan Sebastián Elcano
Institutional Relations

For having served as ambassador for the Spain image since her maiden voyage in February 2008, showing the world not only her majesty and beauty, but also the values of effort, discipline, cooperation and coexistence.

Emilio Botín
Management

For a life dedicated to the Santander group, which has become one of the leading banks in the world, where his character and leadership have been instrumental in the company’s international expansion. His work has led the company gaining a position as one of the benchmark groups in countries like the United Kingdom, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina or Mexico.

EFE Agency
Communication

For being the leading Spanish language news agency and the fourth largest in the world, with a global network of over 3,000 journalists, distributing news to more than two thousand media companies worldwide. More than forty percent of the international news from agencies published in Latin America comes from EFE.

Kike Figaredo
Social Action

For his humanitarian work in Cambodia and his life devoted to helping disabled people in that part of the world, as well as his work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

Plácido Domingo
Culture

For being one of the most internationally-renowned opera singers, performing in world-class venues and at international events; as well as for having successfully directed two institutions as prestigious as the operas of Washington and Los Angeles.

Pau Gasol
Sport

For being the most outstanding individual player of the best generation of Spanish basketball players. Today in the Los Angeles Lakers, he is the longest playing Spanish player in the NBA. With the Spanish team, he has been world champion in 2006, Olympic runner-up in 2008 and runner-up twice in Europe.

Margarita Salas
Science and Innovation

For her long career in the field of molecular biology and her membership in several of the most prestigious national and international scientific societies and institutes, working with, and being a member of the editorial boards of important scientific publications.

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Enric Puig
The panel of judges for the Third Election of Honorary Ambassadors of the Spain Brand, which met on 1 October at the González Byass wine cellars in Jerez de la Frontera, decided to make a special exception by granting the posthumous title of Honorary Ambassador of the Spain Brand to the recently-deceased member of the Board of Directors of the Leading Brands of Spain Association, Enric Puig, for his important and decisive work for the Spanish brands and the Leading Brands of Spain Forum.

Through granting this title, the judges wanted to celebrate Puig’s lifetime of work devoted to promoting one of the most internationally-renowned Spanish brands, and his efforts to ensure its success extended to promoting the image of Spain abroad. Enric Puig was a member of the Board of Directors and the Trust of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum, and one of its most determined advocates. The international projection of its brand led him to gain the position of Chairman of Colipa (the European Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association). Puig combined this facet with promoting sailing as a sport. He was one of the main champions promoting the Copa del Rey regatta, transforming it into an international benchmark competition.