Javier Albares is a senior telecoms executive with +20y expertise in the telecom, media and internet space, currently working as Head of Industry Solutions for the Telco sector at HERE Technologies, the world’s leading location technology platform.

His main areas of interest are digital transformation processes and the impact of data and new technologies on business models. Javier also represents HERE at 5GAA (5G Automotive Association) where he is currently Vice-chair of Working Group 5 (Business models and GTM Strategies).

Prior to joining Here, he worked for 8 years at GSMA, the association that represents the interests of mobile network operators, as Head of Innovation and as Head of Strategy. Based in Brussels and London, he used to travel extensively and meet with policy makers and C-level executives of telecom operators, Governments and digital ecosystem companies to identify future sources of value creation and collaboration opportunities at the edge of innovation (leveraging 5G, AI, Big Data, blockchain, and more)

He also worked for 13 years at Telefonica, in different Director roles in strategy, business development and mobile services, both in Europe and Latin America.  Previously he worked 3 years as Telecom & Media corporate finance analyst for HSBC Investment Bank in London.

Javier holds an Advanced Management Program from INSEAD France, an MBA from IESE Business School and a double bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from ICADE-Comillas Pontificia University. He has also completed programs on Innovation at IMD Switzerland and on Artificial Intelligence at MIT Sloan.

Javier speaks English, Spanish and French.