• CECA's CEO takes over from Pilar González de Frutos (UNESPA) to lead the Spanish Centre for Sustainable and Responsible Finance
  • Publicising the need for SMEs to transition to a sustainable economy will continue to be a priority for FINRESP, along with showcasing the social work of the financial sector

José María Méndez, CEO of CECA, has been appointed as the new Chairman of FINRESP, the Spanish Centre for Sustainable and Responsible Finance. Méndez takes over from Pilar González de Frutos, president of UNESPA, to lead the bank's action plan for the next term of office in the current context of uncertainty and volatility: the social work of the financial sector as a whole. FINRESP is part of the United Nations Environment Programme's FC4S network.

During the last year as Chairwoman of the organisation, Pilar González de Frutos has led the consolidation of the Centre as an institution of reference to contribute to the development of a more sustainable and responsible economic and financial activity, at the service of the economic and productive fabric. González de Frutos has promoted the creation or updating of informative tools such as the 'Catalogue of initiatives linked to sustainability' or the 'Catalogue of service providers linked to sustainable finance'. She has also promoted the creation of meeting points for both financial and non-financial institutions to keep abreast of new developments in sustainability, such as the 'Innovations with good Sense' section.

As part of the announcement, Méndez highlighted that "the social approach to sustainable development should be a strategic priority for all financial institutions that seek to contribute to a more responsible economic and productive activity and have a positive impact on society," he said. "This appointment is an opportunity to raise awareness of ESG values as a transformative agent for diversity, equal opportunities and economic growth. A philosophy shared by savings banks, credit cooperatives, insurance companies and investment fund and pension fund managers that make up FINRESP. "

Pilar González de Frutos, meanwhile, highlighted the effort and commitment of the Spanish financial sector to the transition towards a greener, more resilient and responsible economy. "The Spanish financial sector is a catalyst for the transformations we must undertake in a context in which the ecological transition has accelerated," he said. "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 are facing requires going a step further and making sustainable and responsible management a priority that encompasses all productive sectors", he concludes.

Finresp, linked to SMEs

Since its creation, FINRESP has focused on incentivising the sustainability strategies of small and medium-sized enterprises. This link with SMEs will continue to be a priority under Méndez's mandate, seeking to offer useful solutions that facilitate the transition. A pilot project is currently underway 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 in relation to other comparable companies.

New chairman 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 became CEO of CECA. He is currently a director of the European Savings Banks and Retail Banks Group, a member of the Advisory Committee of the CNMV and of the Management Committee of the Deposit Guarantee Fund, as well as a trustee of the CEOE Foundation and CEO of Cecabank.