Annual report 2009 - Santander

7016. International advisory boardThe international advisory board, established in 1997 andgoverned by article 18 of the Rules and Regulations of the Board,cooperates with the board in the design, development and, ifapplicable, implementation of the overall business strategy bycontributing ideas and suggesting business opportunities.17. Attendance at meetings of the board ofdirectors and its committees in 2009Pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the Board (article 20.1),absences from meetings must be limited to unavoidable cases.The average attendance rate at board of directors’ meetings infiscal year 2009 was 91.9%.During 2009, the international advisory board held twomeetings, during which the following issues were discussed,among others: the international financial situation and thepolitical environment, especially in the United States of Americaand Europe, and the Group’s results, with a special focus on thebusiness in the United Kingdom and the U.S.Attendance at board meetings%97.1It is made up of leading Spanish and foreign personalities whoare not members of the Bank’s board. The international advisoryboard is currently composed of the following 9 members,representing 6 nationalities:90.092.7 91.990.2ChairmanMembers*SecretaryMr Antonino Fernández,former chairman of Grupo Modelo in MexicoMr Bernard de Combret,chairman of Total Trading GeneveMr Carlos Fernández González,chairman and executive vice president ofGrupo Modelo in MexicoMr Santiago Foncillas,former chairman of Grupo DragadosMr. Richard N. Gardner,former US ambassador to SpainMr Francisco Pinto Balsemâo,former prime minister of PortugalSir George Mathewson,former chairman of the Royal Bankof ScotlandMr. William J. McDonough,former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bankof New YorkMr Fernando Masaveu**,chairman of Grupo MasaveuD. Ignacio Benjumea Cabeza de Vaca2005 2006 2007 2008 2009The attendance rate at board meetingshas been greater than 90% ineach of the last five years* Mr Rodrigo Rato tendered his resignation as a memberof the international advisory board at the end of 2009.** Appointed by the board of the Bank at its meeting of25 January 2010.Annual report 2009 Corporate governance report