José María Méndez appointed as the new president of the Center for Responsible and Sustainable Finance of Spain

• The general director of CECA takes over from Pilar González de Frutos (UNESPA) to lead the Center for Sustainable and Responsible Finance of Spain
• The awareness-raising of the need for SMEs to transition towards a sustainable economy will continue to be a priority for FINRESP, along with the display of the social work of the financial sector

José María Méndez, general director of CECA, has been appointed as the new president of FINRESP, the Center for Sustainable and Responsible Finance of Spain. Méndez takes over from Pilar González de Frutos, president of UNESPA, to lead the action plan of the entity during the upcoming term in light of the current context of uncertainty and volatility: the social work of the financial sector as a whole. FINRESP is part of the FC4S network, promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme.

During her last year as president of the organization, Pilar González de Frutos has led the consolidation of the Center as a reference institution to contribute to the development of a more sustainable and responsible economic and financial activity, serving the economic and productive fabric. González de Frutos has promoted the creation or updating of informative tools such as the ‘Catalog of initiatives related to sustainability’ or the ‘Catalog of providers of services related to sustainable finance’. She has also encouraged the creation of meeting points so that both financial and non-financial entities can stay updated on sustainability developments, such as the ‘Innovations with Meaning’ section.

Regarding the announcement, Méndez emphasized that “the social approach to sustainable development should be a strategic priority for all financial entities seeking to contribute to a more responsible economic and productive activity and have a positive impact on society,” he states. “This appointment is an opportunity to raise awareness about ESG values as a transformative agent that promotes diversity, equal opportunities, and economic growth. This philosophy is shared by credit unions, banks, insurance companies, and investment and pension fund managers that are part of FINRESP.”

For her part, Pilar González de Frutos has highlighted the effort and commitment of the Spanish financial sector towards the transition to a greener, more resilient, and responsible economy. “The Spanish financial sector is a catalyst for the transformations we must undertake in a context where the ecological transition has accelerated,” she declared. “The integration of ESG factors as a transversal pillar in companies, institutions, and entities is already a reality in Spain, but the new paradigm we face requires going one step further and making sustainable and responsible management a priority that encompasses all productive sectors,” she concluded.

FINRESP, linked to SMEs

Since its creation, FINRESP has focused on encouraging sustainability strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises. This connection with SMEs will continue to be a priority under Méndez’s mandate, aiming to offer useful solutions to facilitate their transition. A pilot project is currently being developed with CEPYME to provide SMEs in six specific sectors with an assessment of their environmental, social, and corporate governance parameters to help them understand their positioning compared to other comparable companies.

New president of FINRESP

José María Méndez Álvarez-Cedrón (Lugo, 1966) holds a degree in Law from the University of Santiago de Compostela and in Political Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He has developed his professional career in the field of financial regulation and management, initially from his various responsibilities in the Public Treasury. In 2011, he assumed the position of general director of CECA. He currently serves as a council member of the European Association of Savings Banks and Retail Banks, a member of the Advisory Committee of the CNMV and the Managing Commission of the Deposit Guarantee Fund, as well as a trustee of the CEOE Foundation and CEO of Cecabank.