Meritxell Criado Peña

Meritxell is an experienced Hi-Tech business professional. She held positions leading post sales, product management teams and Project Management Offices; she has also successfully worked in contract management, business development and business consulting, mainly in the IT and telecommunication sectors. Today she runs programs at a top European telecom operator. 

Initial technical training (MS Electrical Engineering at ICAI, Universidad Pontificia Comillas) complemented with an MBA (RSM and University of Michigan). International focus working in leading companies in the Spanish, US, German and British markets.

Comfortable with challenges such as defining and creating new functional areas, launching disruptive initiatives in big corporations, or managing virtual and culturally diverse teams. Strong business and technical background allows her to excel driving excellence in project management culture within the organization, enabling continuous people based value generation.

Corporate Experience

• VODAFONE (Madrid). Different roles leading teams across Southern Europe and globally in Service Management, Contract Management and PMOs for Operational Excellence, since May 2014

• TELEFÓNICA TMS (Madrid). Run PMO for key Multinational Customers Service & Operations division transformation initiatives. Implemented Global Service and Project Management Model for MNCs, 2011 - 2014

• Greenlight PM S.L (Madrid) Project Management Sr. Consultant and KAM, 2007 - 2010

• UNISYS Corporation (Madrid). Sales Business Development Manager, 2005 - 2006

• ORACLE Corporation (San Francisco, US). Senior Product Manager CRM solutions, 2000 - 2005

• AT Kearney (Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon) Management Consulting Associate, 1998 - 2000

• SIEMENS A.G (Munich) Marketing Consultant, 1996 - 1998

• ENA Telecomunicaciones (Madrid). Project Manager, 1994 - 1996

Academic Experience

• Universidad Pontificia Comillas, ICAI Adjunct Professor Project Management –Master Industrial Engineering Madrid, 2019 - 2021

• Universidad Pontificia Comillas, ICAI Teacher Professional Soft Skills - Industrial Engineering Madrid, 2021 - Present

• IE University Adjunct Professor Operations Department - Project Management, Madrid, 2023 - Present

Academic Background

• UNIVERSIDAD PONTIFICIA COMILLAS, I.C.A.I - MS in Electrical Engineering. One year scholarship at School of EE Eng, The University of Birmingham, Madrid, and UK, 1987 - 1993

• ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT MBA, General Management. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BUSINESS SCHOOL. Selected for the International Exchange Program - Netherlands and US, 1996 - 1998

Other Relevant Training

• PMI - PMP® –Project Management Institute (PMI) certification in Project Management.

• IACCM (World Commerce and Contracting Organization) - Advanced Practitioner Cert

• ICF/Vodafone-Vodafone Coaching Training Program