María José Cuenda

María José Cuenda currently serves as the General Director of Commercial and Real Estate at Aena, one of Spain’s largest publicly traded companies, listed on the Ibex 35 and recognised as the world’s leading airport operator by passenger volume.

Among her most notable achievements is the transformation and modernisation of Aena’s airport network in Spain, with a strong focus on the development of retail businesses and the integration of digitalisation as a key strategic pillar. Today, under her leadership, Aena’s airports are not just transportation hubs but major commercial spaces that create significant value.

María José’s areas of responsibility also include the modernisation of Aena’s in-house services, such as VIP services and parking facilities – Aena being the largest parking operator in Spain – as well as the company’s real-estate development efforts. Under her leadership, Aena is taking its first steps toward the creation of the so-called ‘Airport Cities’, shaping the future of airport-linked urban development.

María José holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Extremadura, an MBA from the IE Business School, and has completed the Executive Development Program at IESE as well as the Board of Directors Program at ESADE.