Albia IMAP, a leading firm in the Spanish market specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Corporate Finance for the Middle Market, and the University of Salamanca, through the Multidisciplinary Institute of Enterprise (IME), have presented the Albia Family Business Chair.
The initiative was created with the aim of supporting, raising awareness of and accompanying family businesses in their processes of professionalization, growth, and continuity, strengthening their role as a driver of economic and social development.
The event brought together more than one hundred attendees in a conference focused on the current challenges of family businesses, combining academic reflection, business experience, and the exchange of best practices.
The institutional opening was led by Julio Pindado, director of the Chair, together with Fernando Cabos, partner at Albia IMAP. They presented the initiative’s work lines and its mission to generate applied knowledge, foster knowledge transfer, and promote meeting spaces between business and academia.
Following the presentation of the initiative, Ricardo Dávila, partner at Albia IMAP, highlighted:
“At Albia, we firmly believe in the role of family businesses as a driver of corporate growth and long-term value creation. This Chair is founded with the aim of promoting generational continuity through knowledge and dialogue. And we do so alongside the University of Salamanca and the Multidisciplinary Institute of Enterprise as an example of public–private collaboration.”
For his part, Julio Pindado, director of the Chair, explained that “Thanks to the sponsorship of Albia IMAP, activities will be developed for the benefit of family businesses, such as visits to identify how to facilitate continuity and growth, meetings with business families to clarify the family–business relationship, as well as conferences, workshops, and seminars to promote training and professionalization in family businesses.”
Professionalization and Strategy
The conference continued with a first roundtable focused on methods of professionalization in family businesses, featuring Julián Herrero, president of MEINS. The debate, moderated by Julio Pindado, addressed issues such as the incorporation of an external CEO, the definition of management structures, and the need for a long-term strategic vision.
The second roundtable featured Rebeca Gómez, vice president of the Family Council at Corporación Hijos de Rivera, and Pedro Ojea, board member of the corporation. The session, moderated by Ricardo Dávila, revolved around preserving legacy, the role of governance bodies, and the creation and functioning of the Family Council as a key element for generational continuity.
Albia IMAP has a strong track record in the Spanish market, with more than 200 transactions in Spain that have mobilized an approximate value of €2.3 billion, in addition to 300 completed projects. In 2025, the firm closed 14 deals, with a clear international focus: around 50% of its activity corresponds to cross-border transactions.
About the Albia Family Business Chair (University of Salamanca – IME)
The Albia Family Business Chair, part of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Enterprise (IME) at the University of Salamanca, aims to promote training, research, and knowledge transfer activities aimed at family businesses, with a particular focus on professionalization, corporate governance, and generational continuity.
About Albia IMAP
Albia IMAP is a leading firm in the Spanish market specializing in advisory services in M&A and Corporate Finance for the Middle Market. Its model, based on transparency and trust, is supported by the global strength of IMAP, an organization ranked among the top 10 worldwide and present in more than 50 countries.
With a history of over 200 transactions in Spain mobilizing nearly €2.3 billion, the firm maintains 50% international activity and consolidated its leadership in 2025 with 14 strategic closings. Through Empresax, Albia channels its passion for disseminating financial knowledge.
