Joan Laporta is the former President of Barcelona Football Club.
In 2003 a new generation of young and dynamic directors came to FC Barcelona and generated a real shake-up. They aimed to strengthen the club economically and socially and prepare the ground for a winning team that would nurture its social dimension. A number of innovative measures were set up, such as a genuine style of playing football, development of the FC Barcelona Foundation reaching a global alliance with UNICEF and setting up an international network of solidarity centres, approving modern club operational procedures, policies and standards.
During Laporta’s seven years as President, FC Barcelona won the World Club Cup, two European cups, the European Super Cup, four League titles, the Kings Cup, three Spanish Super Cups and three Catalonia Cups. In the economic and social areas the annual budget increased from EUR 123 million to EUR 445 million, whilst membership rose from 106,135 to 173,701.
After serving as President of FC Barcelona, Laporta has been a Member of Parliament for Catalonia as well as City Councillor for the City Council of Barcelona.
A qualified lawyer, Laporta also founded the firm Laporta & Arbos, which is a combined practice of lawyers and economists, made up of professionals with a background in the business world and the civil service, whose mission is to provide enterprises with a truly integrated service.
Laporta is also a referee of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris; a member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Economics and Business Universitat Pompeu Fabra; and was also a personal adviser to the Japanese Consul in Barcelona.