Juan Manuel Álvarez Zabala

Juan Manuel Alvarez Zabala is a senior executive in People, Organizational Leadership and Communication areas, with over 24 years' experience in diverse international industries.

He currently serves as Chief People, Communication and Sustainability Officer (aka CHRO) at Zurich Santander Insurance America. He has a background in Business Administration, a post graduate in telecommunications business and in HR, a GMP by IESE and an Executive MBA by IE Business School, where he has been part of its faculty as Adjunt Professor since 2022 in different courses in TDHR.

His role encompasses oversight of HR strategy across multiple Latin American and European markets, embedding sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) principles into people policies, and ensuring alignment with global corporate values. 

Under his responsibility falls the design and execution of talent management and development, compensation and benefits, employee wellbeing and leadership development, with a strong focus on cultivating organizational culture and performance. He is member of the company’s Executive Committee and contributes to setting the strategic direction, mission, values, and long-term objectives. 

He is also experienced in steering HR transformation in large, multi-country operations. He brings strategic insight into how human capital drives business results, particularly in sectors undergoing regulatory, technological, and social change.

Juan Manuel doesn’t just lead people management in a traditional sense—he builds leadership that connects ethical responsibility, long-term thinking, and real impact across teams and societies as well as business outcomes.

Corporate Experience

• Chief People, Communication and Sustainability Officer. Zurich Santander Insurance America. Spain. 2026-Present
• Chief People and Communication Officer. Zurich Santander Insurance America. Spain. 2021-2025
• Regional Head of Total Rewards and Organization + HRBP for Bank Distribution Division. Zurich Santander Insurance America. Spain. 2017-2021.
• Head of Human Capital for Latin America. Telefonica. Spain. 2015-2017
• Head of Global Executive Reward and Performance. Telefonica. Spain & UK. 2009-2015
• C&B, HR Planning and HRBPs Senior Manager. Movistar. Argentina. 2005-2009
• Senior Consultant. Mercer. Argentina. 2004-2005
• HR Senior Analyst. Movicom Bellsouth. Argentina. 2000-2004

Academic Experience

• Adjunct Professor of Human Resource and Talent Management, IE University, Spain, 2022-Present
• Founding Member of Hacking HR Experts Council. Hacking HR Community. US. 2021-Present

Academic Background

• Executive MBA, IE Business School, Spain, 2017
• Global Management Program, IESE Business School, Spain, 2013
• Post graduate in Telecommunications Business, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain, 2013
• Bachelor in Business Administration, UCES, Argentina, 2007