ASML Holding vs BBVA: Founders, CEOs and History
ASML Holding was founded in 1984 by Philips Electronics, Arthur del Prado and is led by Christophe Fouquet. BBVA was founded in 1857 by Bilbao Board of Trade and is led by Onur Genç.
Company facts
ASML Holding
- Founded
- 1984
- Headquarters
- Veldhoven, Netherlands
- Current CEO
- Christophe Fouquet
- Employees
- 44,209
BBVA
- Founded
- 1857
- Headquarters
- Madrid, Spain
- Current CEO
- Onur Genç
- Employees
- 127,174
Founders
ASML Holding
Philips Electronics
ASML was not founded by an individual with a vision. It was an underfunded joint venture between a conglomerate that wanted a project off its books and a smaller equipment company that wanted into lithography.
Arthur del Prado
Del Prado contribution to ASML was structural and financial rather than technical.
BBVA
Bilbao Board of Trade
No individual is recorded as the founder of BBVA's oldest institution. Banco de Bilbao was created in 1857 after the Bilbao Board of Trade, the body representing the port city's merchants, promoted a bank that could issue banknotes and discount commercial bill…
CEOs and their tenures
ASML Holding
- Willem Maris1990–1999
President and Chief Executive Officer
Willem Maris was recruited from the Philips managerial ranks to run ASML in 1990, when the company was still loss-making and dependent on parent funding. His first task was keeping it solvent through the early 1990s downturn.
Source - Doug Dunn1999–2004
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Doug Dunn took over as president and chief executive on April 1, 1999 and ran ASML through the dot-com boom and the sharp semiconductor downturn that followed.
Source - Eric Meurice2004–2013
President and Chief Executive Officer
Eric Meurice was appointed president and chief executive effective October 1, 2004, joining from Thomson where he ran the television division.
Source - Peter Wennink2013–2024
President and Chief Executive Officer
Peter Wennink joined ASML as chief financial officer in 1999 after a career at Deloitte Accountants covering semiconductor clients, and became chief executive on July 1, 2013, leading the company jointly with technology chief Martin van den Brink.
Source - Christophe Fouquet2024–present
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Management
Christophe Fouquet became president and chief executive on April 24, 2024, succeeding Peter Wennink and Martin van den Brink.
Source
BBVA
- Pedro Luis Uriarte1999–2001
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive and vice chairman of BBV from September 1994 and of the merged BBVA until he retired at the end of 2001.
Source - Francisco Gonzalez2000–2018
Executive Chairman
Chaired Argentaria before its 1999 merger with BBV and then BBVA until December 2018, 22 years at the head of the group in total. He drove the bank's technology rebuild and the 2007 purchase of Compass Bancshares in the United States.
Source - Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri2001–2009
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of BBVA from 2001 to 2009, the period that covered the USD4.1 billion buyout of the rest of BBVA Bancomer in 2004 and the USD9.6 billion purchase of Compass Bancshares in 2007. He later chaired Bankia and CaixaBank.
Source - Angel Cano2009–2015
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed chief executive in September 2009, replacing Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri.
Source - Carlos Torres Vila2015–2018
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive from May 2015 until December 31, 2018, when he became executive chairman and Onur Genc took over as CEO. He had joined BBVA in 2008 to run strategy and corporate development and led digital banking from 2014.
Source - Onur Genc2018–present
Chief Executive Officer
Took over as CEO on December 31, 2018, the day Carlos Torres Vila became executive chairman.
Source
Timeline: ASML Holding and BBVA side by side
1857BBVA
Banco de Bilbao is created
Bilbao's Board of Trade promotes the creation of Banco de Bilbao as a bank of issue and discount for the city's merchants. It is the oldest institution in BBVA's corporate line.
1901BBVA
Banco de Vizcaya is founded
Banco de Vizcaya is founded in Bilbao and grows alongside Banco de Bilbao as the second large Basque bank, financing regional industry.
1984ASML Holding
Founded as ASM Lithography in Eindhoven
ASM Lithography starts operations on April 1, 1984 as a joint venture between Philips and ASM International, with the mandate to commercialize the PAS 2000 wafer stepper developed inside Philips.
1986ASML Holding
PAS 2500 stepper and the Carl Zeiss partnership
ASML brings the PAS 2500 stepper to market with a new wafer alignment system developed by first chief scientist Steef Wittekoek, and establishes the optics partnership with Carl Zeiss that still supplies every ASML lithography system.
1988ASML Holding
ASM International withdraws and Philips funds a rescue
With few customers and heavy cash consumption, ASM International decides to stop funding the joint venture while Philips launches a company-wide cost-cutting program.
1988BBVA
Banco de Bilbao and Banco de Vizcaya merge
The two Basque rivals merge to form Banco Bilbao Vizcaya (BBV), one of the largest banks in Spain ahead of the European single market.
1991ASML Holding
PAS 5500 platform turns the company around
ASML launches the PAS 5500 platform, whose productivity and resolution win the first large orders from Intel and IBM under chief executive Willem Maris and take the company to profitability. PAS 5500 systems are still running in customer fabs decades later.
1995ASML Holding
IPO in Amsterdam and on Nasdaq
ASML becomes a fully independent public company with a dual listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Philips sells half of its shares at the IPO and divests the remainder over the following years.
1999BBVA
BBV merges with Argentaria to create BBVA
BBV merges with Argentaria, the group Spain had assembled from state-owned lenders such as Banco Exterior, Banco Hipotecario and Caja Postal, forming Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.
2000BBVA
BBVA takes control of Bancomer in Mexico
BBVA capitalizes Bancomer with USD1.4 billion and merges it with BBV-Probursa to create Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, the largest bank in Mexico.
2001ASML Holding
TWINSCAN platform launched and Silicon Valley Group acquired
ASML introduces the TWINSCAN dual-stage architecture, which exposes one wafer while the next is measured and aligned, lifting throughput and overlay accuracy above competing systems.
2003ASML Holding
First immersion lithography system
The TWINSCAN AT:1150i debuts as ASML's first immersion machine, projecting 193 nanometer light through a layer of ultrapure water between the lens and the wafer to raise resolution.
2004BBVA
BBVA bids for the rest of BBVA Bancomer
BBVA offers USD4.1 billion in cash for the roughly 41 percent of BBVA Bancomer held by minority investors, ending with about 99 percent of the Mexican group.
2007BBVA
Compass Bancshares purchase builds a US franchise
BBVA buys Compass Bancshares of Birmingham, Alabama for USD9.6 billion, creating a Sunbelt retail bank that later traded as BBVA Compass and BBVA USA.
2010ASML Holding
First EUV prototype shipped
ASML ships the TWINSCAN NXE:3100, its first extreme ultraviolet lithography tool, to the research facility of an Asian chipmaker.
2010BBVA
BBVA agrees to buy 24.9 percent of Garanti
BBVA agrees to pay ~$4.74 billion (EUR4.195 billion), about USD5.84 billion, for 24.9 percent of Turkiye Garanti Bankasi, funded with a rights issue of about $5.65 billion (EUR5 billion).
2012ASML Holding
Customer Co-Investment Program with Intel, TSMC and Samsung
Intel, TSMC and Samsung acquire newly issued ASML shares equal to an aggregate 23 percent minority stake for ~$4.35 billion (3.85 billion euros) in cash, and separately commit ~$1.56 billion (1.38 billion euros) of R&D funding over five years dedicated to EUV…
2013ASML Holding
Cymer acquisition completed and second-generation EUV shipped
ASML completes the acquisition of Cymer, the San Diego supplier of the light sources used in its lithography systems, in a cash-and-stock deal valued at ~$2.2 billion (1.95 billion euros) when it was agreed in October 2012.
2014BBVA
BBVA wins the auction for Catalunya Banc
BBVA bids ~$1.34 billion (EUR1.187 billion) for Catalunya Banc, with 1.5 million customers and ~$71.2 billion (EUR63 billion) of assets, in the auction run by Spain's bank restructuring fund. The deal closed in 2015.
2017ASML Holding
EUV enters high-volume manufacturing
ASML begins shipping the production-ready TWINSCAN NXE:3400B after customers started ordering the NXE:3400 generation in batches in 2016, roughly two decades after EUV research began.
2018BBVA
Onur Genc is named CEO
BBVA's board designates Onur Genc as chief executive from December 31, 2018, the date Carlos Torres Vila replaces Francisco Gonzalez as executive chairman.
2019ASML Holding
Dutch government stops EUV exports to China
The Netherlands does not renew ASML's export licence for EUV systems to China, the start of a widening export control regime.
2019BBVA
BBVA unifies its brand worldwide
The group drops local names such as BBVA Bancomer, BBVA Francés, BBVA Continental and BBVA Compass and operates as BBVA in every market.
2021BBVA
BBVA closes the transfer of BBVA USA to PNC
BBVA completes the transfer of BBVA USA Bancshares to PNC Financial Services on June 1, 2021, receiving about USD11.5 billion, equivalent to ~$10.8 billion (EUR9.6 billion), in cash.
2022BBVA
Tender offer lifts the Garanti stake to 85.97 percent
A tender offer at 15 Turkish lira per share closes in May 2022 and raises BBVA's holding in Garanti BBVA to 85.97 percent.
2023ASML Holding
First High-NA EUV system shipped
ASML ships the first of its next-generation EUV systems with a numerical aperture of 0.55, the TWINSCAN EXE:5000, to Intel in Hillsboro, Oregon.
2024ASML Holding
Christophe Fouquet becomes chief executive
Peter Wennink and Martin van den Brink step down as presidents of ASML on April 24, 2024 and Christophe Fouquet becomes president, chief executive officer and chair of the Board of Management.
2025ASML Holding
Record year, first EXE:5200B and Mistral AI investment
ASML reports total net sales of ~$37 billion (32.7 billion euros), up 15.6 percent, net income of ~$10.8 billion (9.6 billion euros), a gross margin of 52.8 percent and 535 systems sold, and closes the year with a backlog of ~$43.8 billion (38.8 billion euros)…
2025BBVA
The offer for Banco Sabadell lapses
Shareholders representing 25.47 percent of Sabadell's voting rights accept BBVA's all-share offer, short of the minimum BBVA required, and the bid lapses on October 16, 2025.
2025BBVA
Record net attributable profit of ~$11.9B (EUR10.511B)
BBVA reports gross income of ~$41.7B (EUR36.931B) and net attributable profit of ~$11.9B (EUR10.511B) for 2025, with ROTE of 19.3 percent and an efficiency ratio of 38.8 percent.
2026BBVA
BBVA is ordered to stand trial in the Villarejo case
Spain's National Court orders BBVA, former chairman Francisco Gonzalez and 14 other defendants to stand trial over work commissioned from former police commissioner Jose Manuel Villarejo between 2004 and 2016.
Acquisitions
ASML Holding
- Berliner Glas Group2020Undisclosed
- Hermes Microvision Inc. (HMI)2016$3.1B
- Cymer Inc.2013$2.6B
- Brion Technologies2007$270M
- Silicon Valley Group (SVG)2001$1.6B
BBVA
- Turkiye Garanti Bankasi tender offer (Turkey)2022Undisclosed
- Catalunya Banc (Spain)2014Undisclosed
- Turkiye Garanti Bankasi 24.9 percent stake (Turkey)2010$5.8B
- Compass Bancshares (United States)2007$9.6B
- BBVA Bancomer minority shares (Mexico)2004$4.1B
- Grupo Financiero Bancomer (Mexico)2000$1.4B
Questions about ASML Holding vs BBVA
Who is the CEO of ASML Holding NV and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.?
ASML Holding NV is led by Christophe Fouquet and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. is led by Onur Genç. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was ASML Holding NV founded vs Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.?
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. was founded in 1857 — 127 years before ASML Holding NV, which was founded in 1984. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger ASML Holding NV.
How many employees does ASML Holding NV have compared to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.?
ASML Holding NV employs approximately 44,209 people, while Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. employs approximately 127,174. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. has the larger workforce at 127,174 employees, compared to ASML Holding NV's 44,209. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are ASML Holding NV and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. headquartered?
ASML Holding NV is headquartered in Netherlands and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. is headquartered in Spain. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded ASML Holding NV and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.?
ASML Holding NV was founded by Philips Electronics, Arthur del Prado. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. was founded by Bilbao Board of Trade.
Which company has a longer operating history — ASML Holding NV or Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.?
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. has been operating for approximately 169 years, making it the more established of the two companies. ASML Holding NV has been in operation for around 42 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the ASML Holding vs BBVA overview