Emilio Botin
Encyclopedia
Emilio Botín-Sanz de Sautuola y García de los Ríos, 1st Marquis of O'Shea, (born 1 October 1934) is a Spanish
banker. He is the Executive Chairman of Spain's Grupo Santander
. In 1993 his bank absorbed Banco Español de Crédito (Banesto
), and in 1999 it merged with Banco Central Hispano creating Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH), which became Spain's largest bank, of which he was co-president with Central Hispano's José María Amusategui, until Amusategui retired in 2002. In 2004, BSCH acquired the British bank Abbey National
, making BSCH the second largest bank in Europe by market capitalisation. In July 2008 Santander was named the Best Bank in the World by Euromoney magazine. He is known for his obsession with growth and performance as well as regularly visiting branches.
, Cantabria
, on the northern coast of Spain
, the eldest of two sons of Emilio Botín y Sanz de Sautuola, born in 18 January 1903, and Ana García de los Ríos y Caller. After attending as a boarding student
the Jesuit
school of Colegio de la Inmaculada
, in Gijón
, he studied Law
at the University of Valladolid
in Valladolid
and Economics
at the University of Deusto
in Bilbao
. In 1986 Emilio Botín, then aged 52, took over from his father as president of the Banco de Santander, one of many banks that existed in Spain at the time. Botín was no newcomer to the banking world. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all bankers.
Botín is married to Paloma O'Shea Artiñano, 1st Marquise of O'Shea
, a patron of the arts; they have six children. His daughter Carmen was married to golfer Seve Ballesteros from 1988 to 2004.
Botín's favorite pastimes are hunting, fishing and golf. In 2005 Forbes put Emilio Botín's net worth at $
1.7 billion. Botín's eldest daughter, Ana Patricia Botín
, is the President of Banesto
, and widely viewed as his probable successor as President.
On 25 April 2008, two people died in a plane crash south of Madrid at a property belonging to Botín. Neither was a member of the banking family. The light aircraft, which was attempting to land at an airstrip on the Botín property known as El Castaño, was transporting 441 pounds of hashish
.
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
banker. He is the Executive Chairman of Spain's Grupo Santander
Grupo Santander
The Santander Group is a banking group centered on Banco Santander, S.A., the largest bank in the Eurozone and one of the largest banks in the world in terms of market capitalisation. According to Forbes Magazine Global 2000, it is the 13th largest public company in the world...
. In 1993 his bank absorbed Banco Español de Crédito (Banesto
Banesto
Banesto is a Spanish bank, 88.4% owned by Banco Santander. Currently Banesto is the fifth-largest banking group in Spain, operating around 1,770 branches....
), and in 1999 it merged with Banco Central Hispano creating Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH), which became Spain's largest bank, of which he was co-president with Central Hispano's José María Amusategui, until Amusategui retired in 2002. In 2004, BSCH acquired the British bank Abbey National
Abbey (bank)
Abbey National plc was a UK-based bank and former building society, which latterly traded under the Abbey brand name. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Santander of Spain in 2004, and was rebranded as Santander in January 2010, forming Santander UK along with the savings business of the...
, making BSCH the second largest bank in Europe by market capitalisation. In July 2008 Santander was named the Best Bank in the World by Euromoney magazine. He is known for his obsession with growth and performance as well as regularly visiting branches.
Background and personal life
Botín, Marquess Consort of O'Shea, was born in SantanderSantander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
, Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
, on the northern coast of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the eldest of two sons of Emilio Botín y Sanz de Sautuola, born in 18 January 1903, and Ana García de los Ríos y Caller. After attending as a boarding student
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
the Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
school of Colegio de la Inmaculada
Colegio de la Inmaculada (Gijón)
Colegio de la Inmaculada is a Catholic school for primary and secondary education run by the Jesuits in Gijón, Spain since 1890.-History:...
, in Gijón
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
, he studied Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Valladolid
University of Valladolid
The University of Valladolid is a public university in the city of Valladolid, province of Valladolid, in the autonomous region of Castile-Leon, Spain...
in Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
and Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of Deusto
University of Deusto
The University of Deusto is a Spanish Jesuit University, with campuses in Bilbao and San Sebastián, Spain.-History:The University of Deusto first opened in 1886, having been founded because of the Basque Country's desire to have its own university and the Society of Jesus's wish to move its School...
in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
. In 1986 Emilio Botín, then aged 52, took over from his father as president of the Banco de Santander, one of many banks that existed in Spain at the time. Botín was no newcomer to the banking world. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all bankers.
Botín is married to Paloma O'Shea Artiñano, 1st Marquise of O'Shea
Paloma O'Shea
Paloma O'Shea Artiñano, 1st Marquise of O'Shea, , is a pianist, patron of the arts, founder and current principal of the Queen Sofía College of Music and founder and president of the Albeniz Foundation....
, a patron of the arts; they have six children. His daughter Carmen was married to golfer Seve Ballesteros from 1988 to 2004.
Botín's favorite pastimes are hunting, fishing and golf. In 2005 Forbes put Emilio Botín's net worth at $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.7 billion. Botín's eldest daughter, Ana Patricia Botín
Ana Patricia Botín
Ana Patricia Botín-Sanz de Sautuola O'Shea, born in 1960 in Santander, is a Spanish businesswoman. Since December 2010 she has served as CEO of Santander UK, the British banking subsidiary of the Santander Group. Botín was previously executive chairman of the Spanish bank, Banco Español de Crédito,...
, is the President of Banesto
Banesto
Banesto is a Spanish bank, 88.4% owned by Banco Santander. Currently Banesto is the fifth-largest banking group in Spain, operating around 1,770 branches....
, and widely viewed as his probable successor as President.
On 25 April 2008, two people died in a plane crash south of Madrid at a property belonging to Botín. Neither was a member of the banking family. The light aircraft, which was attempting to land at an airstrip on the Botín property known as El Castaño, was transporting 441 pounds of hashish
Hashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
.