Josu Jon Imaz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Josu Jon Imaz
Member of the European Parliament for Spain
In office 12 June 1994 – 7 January 1999
Personal details
Born	1963 (age 61–62) Zumarraga, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Alma mater	University of the Basque Country
Profession	Chemist

Josu Jon Imaz San Miguel was born in 1963 in Zumarraga, Spain. He is a well-known politician, a top business leader, and a scientist. He is currently the CEO of the oil company Repsol. He also has a PhD in Chemical Sciences from the University of the Basque Country.

Josu Jon Imaz was active in politics for many years, from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s. He was a member of the Basque Nationalist Party. During this time, he served as a MEP and was a spokesperson for the Basque government. He also led his political party for a time.

Education and Early Career

Josu Jon Imaz studied Chemical Sciences at the University of the Basque Country. He earned his PhD from this university. He was even given a special award for his excellent grades. He focused his studies on Polymers, which are materials made of many small units linked together.

In 1989 and 1990, he also took business management courses. This helped him learn how to lead and manage companies. He finished his PhD research in 1994. In 1986, he received a grant to train in France. This was part of a program to help researchers get experience abroad.

Professional Life

Josu Jon Imaz started his career in science and industry. From 1987 to 1989, he managed a unit focused on special materials called Composites and Polymers at INASMET. He then worked for the Mondragón Cooperative Group, helping to develop new industries. From 1991 to 1994, he managed marketing and external relations for INASMET.

After spending time in politics, he returned to academics. He worked as a visiting researcher at the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2008, he went back to the business world. He became the president of Petronor, a company that belongs to the Repsol group.

In 2010, he started leading Repsol's New Energies Unit. His goal was to find and develop projects in areas like bioenergy and renewable energy. These are important for cleaner transportation. By 2012, he joined Repsol's main executive team. He became the executive director of the Industrial and New Energies Unit. In 2011, he was also chosen to be the president of the Spanish Association of Petroleum Operators.

In 2024, Josu Jon Imaz shared his concerns about the European Union's focus on decarbonization. He warned that it might make European industries less competitive. Earlier, he had expressed similar views at the Davos Forum. These comments led to some debate with the Spanish minister for ecological transition, Teresa Ribera. However, he received support from Izaskun Bilbao, an MEP from his former party.

Political Career

In June 1994, Josu Jon Imaz was elected as a Euro-Deputy. This means he became a member of the European Parliament. He held this position until January 1999. Then, he became the Regional Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism for the Basque Country government.

As a regional minister, he held several important roles. He was the president of the Basque Energy Entity (EVE). He also led the Society for Industrial Promotion and Reconversion (SPRI). He was also the spokesperson for the Basque Regional Government. In January 2004, he was elected to lead the executive committee of the EAJ-PNV. In late 2007, he decided not to seek re-election and left politics.

Awards and Recognition

In 2006, Josu Jon Imaz received the Creu de Sant Jordi (St. George Cross). This is a special award given by the Catalan Regional Government.

See also

In Spanish: Josu Jon Imaz para niños