Faculty

Professor Fernandez joined IE Business School as Professor of Economics in September 2009.  His professional development, which reflects his personal interests, has led him to explore all the different Economics’ fields. He started as a scholar fully dedicated to teaching and research; afterwards he worked in international economic policy at the IMF, in the banking arena at Santander Group, in international consulting and as Rector of private universities. Within all these fields Fernando has kept a constant premise: his concern for economic and social development and for acting with the highest scientific and professional rigor in the formulation of economic policies, financial activities or business strategies. Dr. Fernandez conceives Economics as a science in the service of freedom and human progress. As a science, Economics requires empirical contrast, analytical rigor and clarity of exposition. As a welfare engine, it requires the participation of economists in public debates, in shaping public opinion.

Academic background

• Ph.D. in Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, 1984
• Labor and Social Security Award for his Thesis, 1985, Ministry of Labor and Social Security
• Scholarship, Researcher Training Plan, Ministry of Education and Science, Spain, 1980-1981
• Bs in Economics (Regional and Urban Economics), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain, 1978
• Training seminars in the IMF Institute, Washington DC, USA, 1991-1996 (Technical issues of economics and management)
• Seminars in WEL (World Economy Laboratory), MIT, Cambridge, Mass., the International Finance Institute, Washington DC, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and others

Academic experience

• Professor of Economics, IE Business School, Madrid, Spain, 2009 to present
• Professor of Economics, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 1984 to 1991 and 1997 to 2001
• Professor –Director- of Economics, European University, Madrid, Spain, 2002 to 2004
• Director of the Santander-Nebrija Chair in International Business Management and Professor of Economics, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain, 2004 to 2009
• Visiting Professor, CUNEF, IESE and IE Business School, Madrid, Spain
• Lecturer, Harvard Business School, Center for Economic Policy Research, International Institute of Finance, The World Bank, the Inter American Bank, Instituto Oficial de Crédito, CECO, ICEX, APD, Real Instituto Elcano, etc.

Corporate experience

• International Consultant in macro and financial topics
• External Advisor to the Strategy Committee of Arcano Financial Group
• Member of the Editorial Board of El Economista and the European Central Bank Observatory
• Columnist, ABC and El Economista   
• Regular contributor, as economics and political analyst, to various radio and television networks
• Rector, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Spain, 2005 to 2009
• Rector, European University, Madrid, Spain, 2002 to 2004
• Chief Economist and Head of Research, Banco Santander Central Hispano, 1997 to 2002
• Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund, 1991 to 1996
• Director, European Business Programme, 1987 to 1991