•  The Spain-US Chamber of Commerce names her Business Leader of the Year
•  Gala dinner at the Waldorf Astoria

The Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce yesterday paid tribute to Esther Koplowitz, FCC's largest shareholder, by naming her Business Leader of the Year.

The award was presented at a gala dinner at New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel attended by over 600 people, including leading figures in politics, banking, business and the arts from the U.S. and Spain.

Collecting the award on behalf of Esther Koplowitz, Mr. Marcelino Oreja, Chairman of FCC, highlighted her two primary interests: business and service to the community through the foundation that bears her name, which focuses on helping the needy and supporting advanced medical research. Marcelina Oreja emphasised that the foundation is funded entirely by Esther Koplowitz.

Mr. Rafael Montes, Chief Executive of FCC, noted that, after her family, Esther Koplowitz puts her business first because 'behind her business are her employees, whose jobs she defends with passion'.

Montes added that FCC has over 95,000 employees and that they and their families are a primary concern for Esther Koplowitz.  'Whenever we have undertaken a merger or acquisition' he added, 'the first instruction from Esther Koplowitz is always the same: make sure that the transaction is not harmful to the workers.'

Rafael Montes also highlighted the successful business initiatives undertaken by FCC since Esther Koplowitz became its largest shareholder, such as the New York street furniture contract, the largest such contract in the city's history.

Over 20 years, CEMUSA will pay the city 1 billion dollars and will install 3,300 new bus stop shelters, 330 newsstands and 20 automatic toilets at no charge to the city. In exchange, FCC will charge for advertising on the furniture.

The gala was attended by numerous representatives of New York City, including Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, representing Mayor Michael Bloomberg.