News | 30 October 2025
BBVA hosted its 2nd Institutional Conference in London
BBVA held the second edition of its Institutional Conference in London on 23rd October 2025. This forum served as a timely gathering for business leaders from across the Financial Services Industry to discuss the current economic and market context.
The conference addressed the changing global landscape, from geopolitical challenges and the evolution of financial markets, to the crucial role of infrastructure in the energy transition, highlighting BBVA’s commitment to adapting to and leading across these trends.
The event began with a welcome and introduction from Anselmo Andrade, Head of BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking UK, who highlighted BBVA's long-standing presence in London and the strategic role of the country. He also detailed how we will leverage the bank’s pillars to continue driving growth across the board.
Global trends
One of the most inspiring moments came during a fireside chat on “The new global order: opportunities and challenges ahead for the Banking sector” featuring Rory Stewart, former UK Cabinet Minister, and Juan Blasco, Global Head of Institutional Business at BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking. They delved into geopolitical shifts and the evolution of the macro context as a whole. They zoomed into the role of institutions and how these must adapt to the current landscape - often marked by the impact of social media - and regain public trust by demonstrating tangible results and adapting to shifting global trends.
The debate then shifted to exploring how Insurance and Asset Managers are collaborating and converging each other’s expertise. The session featured top executives from M&G Investments, Aviva Investors and Future Growth Capital (Schroders / Phoenix JV). Moderated by David Wahi, Head of UK Wealth and Asset Managers, BBVA, speakers analyzed the rise of defined contribution pensions and access to private markets, with a special focus on liquidity management and valuations, as well as the strategic collaboration between insurers and asset managers to channel capital towards growth and energy transition projects. The panel addressed the growing demand for sustainable investment, data and reporting challenges, and how active management differentiates itself from the advance of passive ETFs through client-centric solutions, in an environment marked by demographic aging or disintermediation.
In the next session, representatives from Nationwide Building Society, Algebris Investments, Lloyds, RBC BlueBay, and Standard Chartered Bank, with Edward Stevenson, Head of Debt Capital Markets for Financial Institutions and SSA at BBVA as moderator, debated the AT1 debt market. They highlighted the strength of the banking sector, the relevance of reset rates and selectivity by issuance, in a cycle of declining interest rates and tight spreads. They addressed currency and hedging considerations (GBP, USD, EUR), the complexity of liability management, and the importance of regulatory stability and strengthening the rule of law for investors. Collectively, the strategic role of AT1 in capital management and resilience, market normalization, and greater risk discipline were underscored, in a dialogue where there was general consensus on the importance of regulatory stability.
Infrastructure, resilience and the landscape to come
The fourth panel of the day brought together Hy24, Actis, Brookfield and Gonzalo Fernández-Turégano, Global Sector Head of Financial Sponsors, BBVA. Speakers zoomed into infrastructure as "essential assets" in the current challenging geopolitical context. Macro trends such as the 3 Ds (digitalization, deglobalization, and decarbonization), the rise of data, the concentration of capital in larger-scale funds, and operational risks such as supply chain, cybersecurity, and talent were also addressed. The key? Combining local knowledge, risk discipline, and patient capital to enable the transition and growth of essential infrastructure.
The conference concluded with a fireside chat on “Geopolitical dynamics and defence” featuring Ben Wallace, Former Secretary Of State For Defence (2019 - 2023). Hosted by Jorge Sicilia, BBVA Group Chief Economist and Director of BBVA Research, the conversation zoomed into topics such as social trust, cybersecurity and alliances.
Once again, the forum reflected BBVA's commitment to its institutional clients in the UK and beyond, supporting their growth powered by tailored solutions that respond to the major trends shaping the current landscape.
The conference addressed the changing global landscape, from geopolitical challenges and the evolution of financial markets, to the crucial role of infrastructure in the energy transition, highlighting BBVA’s commitment to adapting to and leading across these trends.
The event began with a welcome and introduction from Anselmo Andrade, Head of BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking UK, who highlighted BBVA's long-standing presence in London and the strategic role of the country. He also detailed how we will leverage the bank’s pillars to continue driving growth across the board.
Global trends
One of the most inspiring moments came during a fireside chat on “The new global order: opportunities and challenges ahead for the Banking sector” featuring Rory Stewart, former UK Cabinet Minister, and Juan Blasco, Global Head of Institutional Business at BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking. They delved into geopolitical shifts and the evolution of the macro context as a whole. They zoomed into the role of institutions and how these must adapt to the current landscape - often marked by the impact of social media - and regain public trust by demonstrating tangible results and adapting to shifting global trends.
The debate then shifted to exploring how Insurance and Asset Managers are collaborating and converging each other’s expertise. The session featured top executives from M&G Investments, Aviva Investors and Future Growth Capital (Schroders / Phoenix JV). Moderated by David Wahi, Head of UK Wealth and Asset Managers, BBVA, speakers analyzed the rise of defined contribution pensions and access to private markets, with a special focus on liquidity management and valuations, as well as the strategic collaboration between insurers and asset managers to channel capital towards growth and energy transition projects. The panel addressed the growing demand for sustainable investment, data and reporting challenges, and how active management differentiates itself from the advance of passive ETFs through client-centric solutions, in an environment marked by demographic aging or disintermediation.
In the next session, representatives from Nationwide Building Society, Algebris Investments, Lloyds, RBC BlueBay, and Standard Chartered Bank, with Edward Stevenson, Head of Debt Capital Markets for Financial Institutions and SSA at BBVA as moderator, debated the AT1 debt market. They highlighted the strength of the banking sector, the relevance of reset rates and selectivity by issuance, in a cycle of declining interest rates and tight spreads. They addressed currency and hedging considerations (GBP, USD, EUR), the complexity of liability management, and the importance of regulatory stability and strengthening the rule of law for investors. Collectively, the strategic role of AT1 in capital management and resilience, market normalization, and greater risk discipline were underscored, in a dialogue where there was general consensus on the importance of regulatory stability.
Infrastructure, resilience and the landscape to come
The fourth panel of the day brought together Hy24, Actis, Brookfield and Gonzalo Fernández-Turégano, Global Sector Head of Financial Sponsors, BBVA. Speakers zoomed into infrastructure as "essential assets" in the current challenging geopolitical context. Macro trends such as the 3 Ds (digitalization, deglobalization, and decarbonization), the rise of data, the concentration of capital in larger-scale funds, and operational risks such as supply chain, cybersecurity, and talent were also addressed. The key? Combining local knowledge, risk discipline, and patient capital to enable the transition and growth of essential infrastructure.
The conference concluded with a fireside chat on “Geopolitical dynamics and defence” featuring Ben Wallace, Former Secretary Of State For Defence (2019 - 2023). Hosted by Jorge Sicilia, BBVA Group Chief Economist and Director of BBVA Research, the conversation zoomed into topics such as social trust, cybersecurity and alliances.
Once again, the forum reflected BBVA's commitment to its institutional clients in the UK and beyond, supporting their growth powered by tailored solutions that respond to the major trends shaping the current landscape.