English Appendix
In recognition of the teamthat made this 25th anniversary possible
FRANCISCO MARTÍNEZ GARCÍA
Former editor of Gerencia de Riesgos y Seguros
In mid 1980 I had my first real
experience of risk management. It was
on a trip through several countries of
Ibero-America when I had to stand in
for Filomeno Mira Candel in the scheduled
interventions on the subject.With the logical
qualms of being thrown in the deep end, I
took the plunge and resurfaced with an
entirely new outlook on things, a new
perspective that then stood me in fine stead
in my prevention work in ITSEMAP,
Instituto Tecnológico de Seguridad
MAPFRE.
On my return from that trip, the seminal
seed planted in by that new vision of risks
took root, prompting me to embark on an
immediate search for more information. In
my trawl through all published works on the
matter I rediscovered the review Gerencia de
Riesgos, my eyes now open to truths I had
hitherto been blind to. I began to tug on the
thread I had discovered and found more and
more warps and woofs of the sometimes
tangled but always thrilling fabric that serves
as the only blanket coverage for all the risks
of any person, group or organisation.
In 1986 I joined the review’s editorial board and from this vantage point continued my voyage of discovery, coming to understand the basic principles, techniques, practical applications and continually changing setting of risk management. Later, after more active participation in support of Filomeno Mira Candel, the editor of the review, I received from him with honour the baton in 1998.
During this period, as in previous stages, the review has continually adapted its contents and presentation to meet the readers’ demands.Articles were given a broader scientific-technical slant, new study sections were opened; useful information on claims, publications, congresses was progressively phased in. An offprint summary in English was published and then an edition in Portuguese, promoted by MAPFRE Brasil.
In the editorship of the review I was lucky enough to receive the inestimable and active backing of the editorial board, whose dedication and endeavours I will be ever thankful for. Equally essential in editorial tasks was the highly professional management of José Juanatey Viqueira and Elena Rodríguez Rodríguez, as well as the shrewd eyes for design and composition of Santos de Antonio Pérez and Gustavo Poveda de la Iglesia. All these inputs helped to ensure the ongoing success of the publication, which had by now broadened its title to Gerencia de Riesgos y Seguros. But the most heartfelt recognition, during the time I was honoured to edit the review, must go to Yolanda Pastor Arriaza, who ran the secretariat of the review and dealt with the many administrative and logistic tasks, working away diligently behind the scenes to ensure its visible success.
After my early retirement from FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE Estudios in 2006, I passed on the baton to José Luis Ibañez Gotzens, today’s editor. From the editorial board I am delighted to be able to continue making some contribution to our ongoing task of bringing risk management to a wider audience, working towards its acceptance in all spheres: personal, entrepreneurial and institutional. I hope and trust that the review will celebrate new and successful anniversaries in the future, sure in the knowledge that Gerencia de Riesgos y Seguros will continue to perform its technical and institutional mission in its cogent and insightful fashion.