Mateu Hernández is an expert on urban and economic development and executive director on private and public organizations dealing with cities, visitors economy and creativity. He is the CEO of Visit Barcelona / Turisme de Barcelona public private consortia. Previously he was the first CEO of Barcelona Global, a nonprofit independent association made up of more than 1.000 members with the mission to make Barcelona one of the best cities in the world for talent and economic activity. He has also been engaged as international director at Casa Batllo Gaudí world heritage Barcelona.

From 1999 up to 2011 he developed his career in the Barcelona City Council by being its CEO for economic development and CEO of its local development agency, Barcelona Activa where he developed entrepreneurship, talent, tourism, employment, FDI, and city brand strategies. He has also been advisor of several cities like NY, Oslo, Torino or London. Secretary of the International Advisory Board of the Smart City World Expo and Congress.