Luis Urbano is regional managing partner for Heidrick & Struggles Europe and Africa since January 2013, and global managing partner for the firm's Consumer Markets Practice since 2010. Luis also covers the CEO and board searches in Spain.
Luis joined the company in 2002 as a partner in the Consumer Services Practice, specialising in high level assignments within the media & entertainment, hospitality and retail practices, frequently on a pan-European basis. Since he has a wide professional background in the field of real estate, Luis is also a member of the firm's Financial Services Practice in Spain.
Luis served as managing partner Spain for five years and also led the Media, Entertainment & Sports Practice in EMEA from 2007 to 2009.
Prior to moving into executive search, Luis held a number of senior international positions related to the retail, media and real estate industries including: general manager of Thorn Emi Rental Spain (Radio Rentals) driving a major expansion which drastically increased turnover and profitability, VP operations of Virgin Retail Europe, retail chain specialised in video, music and books, and managing director of Grupo Riofisa where he established their shopping centres division. Today Riofisa is one of the leading developers in this market segment. Finally Luis was CEO for Deluxe Media Services Europe, a leading supplier for the media & entertainment industry.
Born in Madrid, Luis is a member of Círculo de Empresarios (Spanish Entrepreneurs Association) and guest speaker at business schools such as ESADE, Instituto de Empresa and IESE.