We are excited to announce that our VIII Annual Gala Dinner will be held on Wednesday 6th December 2017 at the beautiful Christ Church Spitalfields, located in the heart of the City of London and a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street station.
This corporate event is one of the most important activities that the Spanish Chamber organises each year and it is attended by leading representatives from a wide range of both British and Spanish companies. As tradition dictates, the event will be presided by H.E. the Ambassador of Spain, Mr. Carlos Bastarreche Sagües.
On this special occasion we are also very pleased to announce that Mr. António Horta-Osório, Chief Executive Officer of Lloyds Banking Group will be attending as our Guest of Honour, and we would like to take this opportunity to introduce him.
Mr. Horta-Osório started his career at Citibank Portugal where he was Head of Capital Markets. He then worked for Goldman Sachs in New York and London, before joining Grupo Santander as Chief Executive of Banco Santander de Negócios Portugal in 1993. He was additionally Chairman of Santander Totta until 2011, where he was CEO from 2000 -2006, while having been CEO of Banco Santander Brazil prior to that.
António joined the board of Lloyds Banking Group in January 2011 as an Executive Director and became Group Chief Executive on 1st March 2011. Previously a non-executive Director to the Court of the Bank of England, António is currently a non‐executive Director of Exor N.V., (an investment company controlled by Italy’s Agnelli family), Sociedade Francisco Manuel dos Santos B.V. (controlling shareholder of Jerónimo Martins, Portugal and Poland’s largest food distribution company) and Fundação Champalimaud (private bio medical research foundation) in Portugal.
In 2014 the Government of Portugal awarded António with the Order of Merit Grã‐Cruz, which is the highest Order of Civil Merit. He serves on the CBI President’s Committee and became Chairman of the Wallace Collection in 2015, a Prime Ministerial appointment. The Wallace Collection is one of Europe’s most prestigious art collections.
With such a remarkable Guest of Honour, we are certain that attendees will be delighted to hear Mr. António Horta-Osório insight during his highly anticipated speech, as well as to have the opportunity to meet with him during the evening. Moreover, the Dinner will be held at one of London’s most impressive venues: in the Nave of Christ Church Spitalfields. This stunning, oak-panelled space is certainly an architectural masterpiece that has been restored to enhance its authentic Baroque features, namely architect Nicholas Hawksmoor’s bold symmetrical design which enhances the striking ceiling of intricate flower designs from which elegant chandeliers are hung. The grandiose Church is situated close to the famous Spitalifelds Market, Brick Lane and Columbia Road Flower Market and is very easily accessible by road, rail and tube.
Please remember that places for this event are limited, so do not forget to book in advance to avoid disappointment. For further information on this event and how to book a place, please see the Events section of the Chamber’s website.
