Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros, Spanish business leader, dies at 82

Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros y Bernaldo de Quirós, a prominent Spanish businessman and aristocrat, has died at the age of 82. He passed away in Madrid on August 29, 2026.

Espinosa de los Monteros held several high-profile leadership roles throughout his career. He served as the president of Iberia and Aviaco between 1983 and 1985 and led Mercedes-Benz España as president and CEO for over two decades. He also served as the first High Commissioner of the Marca España program from 2012 to 2018.

In addition to his corporate roles, he held positions with Inditex as a director and president, led the Fraternidad-Muprespa organization from 1998 to 2026, and was involved with the Círculo de Empresarios and the ANFAC automotive association. He was also a co-founder of the think tank Civismo, contributing to Spanish civil society and public debate.