The Diplomat
The diplomat María Lledó, who until a few months ago was Secretary General for the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has joined the public affairs consultancy Acento, where she will head the European Affairs area.
With the signing of María Lledó, the consultancy firm run by former ministers Alfonso Alonso and José Blanco strengthens its team dedicated to European issues, as she will be deputy general director with a focus on the Brussels delegation.
A career diplomat with more than 25 years of experience in international relations and community policy, Lledó arrives to lead the European strategy of the firm, according to Acento in a note.
Among her most recent responsibilities is her work as Secretary General for the European Union, playing a key role in the organisation of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of last year. She was also Director General of the Internal Market and other Community policies, and has held various important positions in Brussels, such as Deputy Permanent Representative to the Political and Security Committee, and Councillor for Parliamentary Affairs.
The incorporation of Lledó reinforces Acento’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the European sphere, with an eye on the unification of its teams in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as on the expansion of its presence in Brussels. Acento thus seeks to respond to the challenges posed by the new Community legislature, promoting an active and strategic agenda for the Spanish corporate world.
Under the new leadership of Lledó, Acento plans to redesign and expand its offer in European Affairs, focused mainly on supporting Spanish companies in Brussels. “We continue to advance in our strategic plan, developing differentiated capabilities to better serve our clients,” said Alfonso Alonso, president of the consultancy firm.
José Blanco, founder and CEO of Acento, added: “The arrival of María Lledó positions us at a prominent level in Brussels, allowing us to respond quickly to the growing demand in this sector.”
For her part, Lledó expressed her enthusiasm for joining the Acento team: “I am delighted to be able to contribute my experience in the European field and contribute to the success of the firm’s project.”
A graduate in Economics from the Autonomous University of Madrid and in Political Science from the UNED, María Lledó has had an outstanding diplomatic career since joining in 1999. She has held positions in the Spanish embassies in London and Rabat, as well as in consulates in Bogotá. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she has held positions such as director of the Cabinet of the State Secretary for Cooperation and advisor in the cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, among others. This appointment reinforces Acento’s strategy to consolidate itself as a benchmark in European Affairs, with the firm intention of expanding its influence in Brussels and supporting the Spanish business sector in the face of new European challenges.
Acento is in the top 3 public affairs consulting firms in Spain, along with LLYC and Vinces; and all 3 have offices in Brussels to manage the growing demand for European affairs.
