Alfonso Cortina holded degrees in Advanced Industrial Engineering, Economics, and a professorship in Physics from the Escuela Superior Técnica de Ingenieros Industriales (ETSII). From 1972 to 1996, he was the CEO of Bancaya Inmobiliaria; the CEO of Hispano Hipotecario, and the Chairman and CEO of Portland Valderribas and Cementos Portland. Furthermore, he was the Chairman and CEO of Repsol from 1999 to 2004, the Chairman and CEO of YPF from 1996 to 2004, and the Chairman of Inmobiliaria Colonial from 2004 to 2007. He was member of the Board of Directors of BBVA, Banco Central, Banco Zaragozano, FCC, Ferrovial, Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP), Recoletos Grupo de Comunicación, Mutua Madrileña, and of the IAB of Allianz. He was also Chairman of the Spanish Group of the Trilateral Commission. From 2007 until 2020 he was Vice Chairman of Rothschild Europe and Senior Advisor of TPG.