Carlos Lopez-Blanco appointed Chair of the ICC Commission on the Digital Economy

With decades of public and private sector experience in Europe and Latin America, Mr Lopez-Blanco’s appointment comes at a critical time for the digital economy with new and emerging trends, like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cyber security, reshaping the way businesses, governments, and societies operate.

Mr Lopez-Blanco has served as the Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and the Information Society and held numerous leadership positions within the private sector, including General Counsel to IBM Spain, Airbus Spain and Airtel/Vodafone. Throughout his career, Mr Lopez-Blanco has been increasingly active in Latin America, where he served for Telefónica for 10 years and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of Telefónica Argentina. Most recently, Mr Lopez-Blanco was the Global Head of Public Affairs for Telefónica.

“Digitalisation is a challenge for all the sectors of the economy and for companies of every size,” said Mr Lopez-Blanco. “I am delighted to chair the ICC Commission of the Digital Economy and work with ICC’s diverse global network of private sector leaders to create an enabling environment for investment, creativity and innovation in the development of information and communications technology (ICTs), as well as contribute to the sustainable and inclusive growth of the digital world.”

Since 2017, Mr Lopez-Blanco has chaired the Digitalisation Committee of the Spanish  Chamber of Commerce, which under his leadership, produced comprehensive reports examining the digitalisation of  Spanish small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as the digital transition of the Spanish economy.

In addition, Mr Lopez-Blanco chairs the ESYS Foundation, a group of business leaders, experts, researchers and academics devoted to strengthening cyber security across public and private institutions in Spain. He is also a lecturer at ESADE Law School, one of Spain’s most prestigious universities, where he has taught courses on Law, Society and the Digital Economy.

Commenting on the appointment of Mr Lopez-Blanco, Sophie Peresson, Director of ICC Innovation for All said: “We’re truly pleased to welcome Carlos as  newchair of the ICC Commission on the Digital Economy. Throughout his career in both the private and public sector, Carlos has advocated for making digital technologies accessible, affordable and relevant for all. Under his leadership, the ICC Commission on Digital Economy will continue to address ICT and Internet-related issues that impact business leaders, policymakers and individuals alike.”

The ICC Commission on the Digital Economy develops policy positions on topics spanning the Internet and telecoms, privacy and data protection, security, and digital trade in line with ICC goals to make technology work for all To promote the global development of the digital economy and continued growth of its underlying information and communication technologies (ICTs) and related business models, the commission facilitates private sector policy leadership, regulatory advocacy, and promotion of best practices among the private sector.

To hear more about Mr Lopez-Blanco’s vision for the global digital economy, how businesses worldwide can help shape it, and what role the ICC Commission on the Digital economy can play to amplify the voice of private sector tune into the latest episode of ICC’s Trading Thoughts podcast.