He was born in Madrid in 1946. He studied high school at the Ramiro de Maeztu Secondary School and law at the Complutense University of Madrid. In 1974 he entered, with number one, the Corps of State Lawyers.
Half of his professional life has been devoted to public administration, and he is the only Spaniard to have held senior positions with all three governing parties since democracy:
- Under the UCD, Head of the Cabinet of the Minister of Industry and Energy (1977-1979), Secretary General and Secretary of the Board of Directors of INI (1979-1982) and Undersecretary of Defence.
- Under the PSOE, Secretary of State for Defence (1984-1987).
- With the PP, Minister of Defence (1996-2000).
In the private sector he has held various positions: Chairman of Telettra España, Chairman of Cubiertas MZOV, Chairman of Peugeot-Talbot España, Chairman and founder of Airtel and Chairman of UBS España.
Eduardo Serra has dedicated part of his life to collaborating with charitable and non-profit organisations; he has been General Director and President of the FAD (Federación de Ayuda contra la Drogadicción) (1987-1996), President of INCIPE (1989-1996), President of the Royal Board of Trustees of the Prado Museum (2000-2004), Founding President of the Elcano Royal Institute (2000-2004).
He is currently Chairman of the consulting firm Eduardo Serra y Asociados, Vice Chairman of everis, member of the Board of Directors of ONO and Zeltia, Chairman of the everis Foundation, Chairman of the Spanish Atlantic Association, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the American Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member of Deutsche Bank and Nereo Green Capital, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Antonio de Nebrija University, Vice Chairman of the Royal Academy of the Sea, Trustee of the Prado National Museum and the Elcano Royal Institute and member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.