CEOs as Leaders and Strategy Designers: Explaining the Success of Spanish Banks

KIMIO KASE is Associate Professor at IESE Business School, Spain. His interests lie in the area of corporate-level strategy, namely the creation of value from the corporate parent, and focus on the transformational leadership. He has studied Japanese and Spanish MNCs and, with a wide professional experience, has written and contributed to several books and articles. TANGUY JACOPIN is Associated Research Fellow at IESE Business School, Spain, and Responsible for Research, Development and Innovation at Fundación CIFF, Spain. PhD at the Sorbonne University and Post-doctorate at Columbia University, he was also Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University, UK, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• Introduction: The Banking Industry The Banking Industry in Spain Theoretical Framework: Cognitive Approach to the Governance of Business Enterprises Methodology Conclusions

'This book provides a fascinating study on the incredible growth process of the top Spanish banks. It also sheds light on the transformational impact that their top leaders had on those banks. A very unique contribution' - Professor Jordi Canals, Dean, IESE Business School'Kase and Jacopin offer fascinating insight into the remarkable and surprising emergence of Banco Santander and BBVA as leading global banks. Against a background of disappointing returns to international expansion by retail banks, Santander and BBVA have reconciled rapid asset growth, strong profitability, and excellent shareholder returns. The book offers valuable lessons in how banks can develop strategies that combine operational excellence and attentiveness to the bottom line with inventiveness in developing new business and effectively managing integration.' - Robert M. Grant, Professor Bocconi University, Milan, Italy'This study of the impressive success of BBVA and Santander banks is more than a descriptive account. Fascinating story, though it is,the book extends more deeply to consider alternative models of bank management and more widely to incorporate comparisons with other strategies in Europe and beyond. The reader will learn much.' - Albert Fishlow, Professor of International Affairs and Director, Institute for LatinAmerican Studies,Columbia University, New York, USA