Americas Society awards 2026 Gold Medal to Azagra, Díaz-Granados and Soberón

Americas Society honored three Latin American business leaders in New York on Tuesday for advancing growth, sustainability and regional connectivity across the Americas. The 2026 Gold Medal went to Iberdrola CEO Pedro Azagra, CAF chief Sergio Díaz-Granados and Grupo CIE and OCESA founder Alejandro Soberón. Why it matters: - The 2026 Gold Medal highlights private-sector and development leaders shaping Latin America’s economic future. - The award recognizes work tied to energy transition, regional integration, sustainability and live entertainment, all of which affect jobs, investment and cross-border connectivity. - Americas Society used the ceremony to elevate cooperation, democracy and philanthropy as part of the region’s long-term development agenda. What happened: - Americas Society awarded its 2026 Gold Medal on Tuesday to Pedro Azagra, Sergio Díaz-Granados and Alejandro Soberón. - The ceremony took place this evening on Wall Street in New York. - The association honored the three leaders for their contributions to the development of Latin America. - The recognition also cited their role in promoting economic growth, sustainability and regional connectivity across the Americas. The details: - Pedro Azagra is CEO of Iberdrola. - Americas Society recognized Azagra for driving the energy transition and for Iberdrola’s international expansion, especially in Latin America and the United States. - Azagra said the recognition reflects the work of Iberdrola’s teams and the commitment of the Hispanic community to building alliances for sustainable growth. - Sergio Díaz-Granados is Executive President of CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. - Americas Society honored Díaz-Granados for leadership focused on regional integration, sustainability and social cohesion as pillars of economic development in Latin America. - Alejandro Soberón is founder and CEO of Grupo CIE and OCESA, the Concerts and Shows Organization. - Americas Society awarded Soberón for helping consolidate a globally scaled live entertainment industry from Mexico. - Under Soberón’s leadership, Grupo CIE and OCESA have driven major international events and helped position Mexico as a cultural and economic benchmark in the sector. - Susan Segal, president and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, said the awardees represent visionary and committed leadership focused on the region’s long-term development. - Segal also said the organization values building positive agendas based on cooperation, democracy and philanthropy. - The Gold Medal was created in 1977 by Americas Society, an organization dedicated to education, debate and dialogue on the Americas. - Previous recipients include David Rockefeller, Jamie Dimon, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Oscar de la Renta and Laurence Fink. Between the lines: - The honorees span energy, development finance and entertainment, signaling that Americas Society is linking regional progress to both infrastructure and cultural influence. - The mention of the Hispanic community in Azagra’s remarks points to the role of diaspora and cross-border networks in business expansion. - The awards also reinforce New York’s role as a meeting point for hemispheric business and policy leaders. What’s next: - Americas Society is likely to continue using the Gold Medal to spotlight leaders it sees as advancing the region’s long-term competitiveness and cohesion. - The recognition may also strengthen the public profile of the honorees as they pursue energy, financing and entertainment growth strategies across the Americas. The bottom line: - Americas Society used its top honor to spotlight three leaders whose work connects economic development with sustainability, integration and cultural reach across Latin America and the broader hemisphere.