IE University announces creation of the Guillermo and Michèle de la Dehesa Library

IE University has announced that the institution's library will now be known as the Guillermo and Michèle de la Dehesa Library in recognition of the donation of 20,000 volumes, including books and papers on economics and art from the private collection of Guillermo de la Dehesa and his wife, Michèle Barbé. The formal presentation of the volumes took place today at an event attended by the donors, Diego del Alcázar Silvela, founder and President of IE University, and Gonzalo Garland, Vice President of the IE Foundation.

Speaking at the event, Guillermo de la Dehesa conveyed his satisfaction at “leaving our legacy with IE University so that students can consult the knowledge contained in the more than 20,000 volumes on economics and art that we have collected over the last 50 years.” Guillermo de la Dehesa also recalled that his association with IE University began in 1997 as President of the institution's Leadership Forum, “a meeting place for the leaders of the largest international corporations in Spain, attended by international personalities from the political, economic and business spheres, including 10 Nobel Prize winners and dignitaries from important countries and international organizations.”

Diego del Alcázar Silvela expressed his gratitude to Guillermo de la Dehesa and his wife Michèle Barbé for their generous contribution, noting: “We are very proud that our library will henceforth bear your name, and that future generations of IE University students, who come here from all over the world, will recognize and understand the relevance of those who helped build this institution.” Diego del Alcázar Silvela also acknowledged Guillermo de la Dehesa's key support for the Business Leadership Forum.

“Under his guidance, IE University has welcomed figures of the highest international levels, to learn about their vision, and anticipate and discuss the main challenges we face with senior executives from the business world.”
Diego del Alcázar Silvela, Founder and President of IE University

The event, held at IE Tower, IE University's new headquarters in Madrid, was attended by members of Guillermo de la Dehesa and Michèle Barbé’s family, prominent personalities from the business world and IE University's senior management. The specialized collections in economics and art will be freely accessible and will form part of the library's digital catalog to help the work of researchers, students, alumni and society in general.

Guillermo de la Dehesa, an economist and writer, has enjoyed a brilliant and extensive professional career in private corporations, public institutions, non-profit organizations, as well as in academic activities at the international level. He is also Honorary Chairman of the International Board of Trustees of IE University and a Trustee of the IE Foundation. As an author and co-author, he has published almost 100 books and more than 300 articles in national and international media.