Javier Targhetta graduated as a Mining Engineer – MSc at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and later awarded a BA degree by IESE (University of Navarra). After complementing his studies with practical work in Germany and England, he began his professional career in the field of metallurgical R&D, joining the AIPSA project, sponsored by the Explosivos Rio Tinto and the Tharsis Sulphur & Copper Groups.
In 1973 he joined the engineering consultancy firm Sereland where he stayed for eight years holding various senior positions, the last one as VP Industrial Division. After four years with the coal trading and shipping/stevedoring company Ruiz de Velasco, in 1985 was appointed Chairman & CEO of Elcano, at the time the leading Spanish shipping company. Between 1988 and 1990 he simultaneously ran the containerized shipping company Trasatlantica – Spanish Line, also as Chairman & CEO. In 1990, he was appointed CEO of Atlantic Copper. In 1993 Freeport-McMoRan (Phoenix, USA) acquired 100% of Atlantic Copper and Javier Targhetta was confirmed in the position which he holds today. As from July 2005 he also holds the responsibility of Freeport’McMoRan worldwide copper concentrate sales as Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales.
Among other responsibilities, Javier Targhetta currently is Vice President Commissioner of PT Smelting (Indonesia), Vice Chairman of Fortia, one of Spain’s largest electric power distributors and also is Professor Ad Honorem at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Between 2004 and 2014 he was Associate Professor at this same University. Until June 2008, Javier was Chairman of the Spanish Large Energy Consumers Association – AEGE and from 2007 through November 2011 was Chairman of Eurometaux (European Association of Non-Ferrous Metals Producers).
Between 2008 and 2010 he was Chairman of the European Copper Institute – ECI. Javier has previously served at the Board of Directors of a number of companies such as Unión Asturiana Estibadora, The Britannia Steamship Protection & Indemnity Club Ltd, Fertiberia, Duro’Felguera, Compañía General de Carbones and Glencore’s Asturiana de Zinc among others. He was recently appointed Chairman of Primigea, the Confederation of Spanish Mineral Resources Industries.
Javier Targhetta is fluent in written and spoken English, German, French and Italian, in addition to Spanish, his mother tongue. He is married and has two daughters.
