Arancha González Laya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has granted the prestigious recognition to César Cernuda for strengthening commercial ties between Spain and the United States
MADRID, May 5th, 2021 – NetApp, a global cloud-led, data-centric software company, today announced that its president César Cernuda has been awarded with the Officer's Cross in the Order of Civil Merit by Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya. Conducted for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prestigious ceremony was again able to be held in person under strict safety precautions at the Palacio de Viana in Madrid, Spain.
Ms González Laya granted Cernuda with this State Order in recognition of commercial ties he helped build between Spain and the United States, especially for the nation branding project “Marca España” (Spain as a brand), and for his support of Spanish companies and organizations in different regions of the world, including Asia and Latin America.
“I want to show my gratitude to His Majesty King Felipe VI for this award,” said César Cernuda, president of NetApp.” I receive this prestigious honor with great emotion and deep appreciation. I am proud to have been able, thanks to my profession, to strengthen the ties between Spain and the United States. And I will continue to do so tirelessly in my current position as president of NetApp, a company that is at the forefront of global digital transformation.”
A long and successful career
César Cernuda has extensive experience in international leadership: For more than 25 years he has launched and grown companies in a variety of international markets, leading teams in sales, marketing and product development along the way.
Before joining NetApp, Cernuda worked at Microsoft for 23 years. With roles such as president of the Asia-Pacific region, president of the LATAM region, as well as global corporate vice president of the brand, he established himself as one of the most successful Spanish executives worldwide. Cernuda’s achievements have been recognized with various awards throughout his professional career, including being named "Best Executive of the Year" in 2011 by Emprendedores magazine, and shortlisted among the "50 most influential Hispanic leaders" in 2019 and 2020, among other accolades. Despite Cernuda’s highly successful international career, he has never forgotten his origins in Luarca, the small Asturian town where he returns to visit frequently despite his demanding schedule.
An outstanding recognition
The Order of Civil Merit was instituted by King Alfonso XIII, by Royal Decree of June 25, 1926. It rewards “the civic virtues of officials at the service of the state, as well as the extraordinary services of Spanish citizens and foreigners for the good of the nation.”
His Majesty, King Felipe VI of Spain, is the Grand Master of the Order of Civil Merit, therefore all the decorations of this order are conferred in his name. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the Grand Chancellor of the Order.
About NetApp
NetApp is a global cloud-led, data-centric software company that empowers organizations to lead with data in the age of accelerated digital transformation. The company provides systems, software, and cloud services that enable them to run their applications optimally from data center to cloud, whether they are developing in the cloud, moving to the cloud, or creating their own cloudlike experiences on premises. With solutions that perform across diverse environments, NetApp helps organizations build their own data fabric and securely deliver the right data, services, and applications to the right people—anytime, anywhere. Learn more at www.netapp.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
