Doha, Qatar, September 2025 – Santiago Bañales has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer at East-West Digital, a newly launched software company by Iberdrola. In his new role, he will lead the company’s mission to design, develop, and commercialize AI-powered products that revolutionize the future of energy and sustainability. Santiago will continue to serve as Managing Director of Iberdrola Innovation Middle East, holding a dual leadership responsibility within the Iberdrola Group.
Santiago’s journey with Iberdrola began in 2015, when he assumed the role of Managing Director for Iberdrola Innovation Middle East. Based in Qatar, he has been instrumental in building innovation partnerships and spearheading digital transformation initiatives across the energy sector in the Middle East. His work has played a critical role in strengthening Iberdrola’s footprint in the region and advancing sustainable energy solutions.
Prior to his current leadership, Santiago served as Managing Director at ORMAZABAL CURRENT, where he oversaw operations across Spain, Switzerland, and the USA. He also held the role of Managing Director – Strategy, Development & Technology at Ormazabal, focusing on innovation-led growth and international expansion. During this period, he also served on the Board of Directors of PRIME Alliance AISBL and was a Non-Executive Board Member for Sustainable Development at TECNALIA.
Earlier in his career, Santiago led strategic roles at Endesa as Director of Strategy and Development of Products and Services, and worked as Manager in the Energy Practice at A.T. Kearney, with global experience across Boston, Paris, and Madrid. His foundation in energy systems and engineering was laid at EDF, where he served as R&D Project Manager.
Santiago is also deeply engaged in academia and industry collaboration. He serves as an MBA speaker and capstone advisor at HEC Paris, a board member at Texas A&M University at Qatar, and has held advisory and board roles at the Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Qatar and Morgan Solar Inc., among others. His educational background includes degrees from MIT, INSEAD, CentraleSupélec, and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, reflecting a unique blend of technical and strategic expertise.
With over two decades of experience spanning digital innovation, energy strategy, and AI-driven transformation, Santiago’s dual leadership at Iberdrola Innovation Middle East and East-West Digital positions him at the forefront of reshaping how technology powers sustainable energy.
East-West Digital is a software company launched by Iberdrola to design, develop, and commercialize AI-powered products that enable energy companies to scale faster, operate smarter, and drive sustainability. Offered under a SaaS model, its products empower both energy providers and users to optimize performance, reduce environmental impact, and unlock new value in a rapidly evolving sector. As part of Iberdrola, a global leader in sustainable energy, East-West Digital reflects a shared commitment to turning intelligence into impact and driving measurable progress toward a more sustainable future.
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