The Generalitat awards the gold medal to Isak Andic posthumously
The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, presented the gold medal posthumously on Monday afternoon to the founder of Mango, Isak Andic, who died last December while hiking in Collbató . During an event held in the Sant Jordi hall of Palau, Illa praised the businessman's "contribution to the world of fashion and economics."
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Andic founded Mango more than 40 years ago in Barcelona, where it has always maintained its headquarters and operations. During this time, it has become one of the most important fashion companies in Spain and Europe, with a presence in 120 markets and more than 15,000 employees. In 2023, it broke its turnover record, with 3,104 million euros, and profits (172 million).
Mango's president, Toni Ruiz, receives the award at the Palau de la Generalitat“Isak Andic's career is one of the most prosperous in life and business for Catalonia, Spain and Europe,” said the head of the Executive. The person in charge of collecting the highest honorary distinction from the Generalitat was the president and CEO of Mango, Toni Ruiz. “He was a true visionary, an entrepreneur with inexhaustible energy,” said the executive, who assured that the most brilliant pages of Mango are yet to be written.
Ruiz was Isak Andic's right-hand man and, after his death, he was chosen to also take over the presidency of the company, a position held by the founder, but without executive powers. He is also a minority shareholder, with 5% of the textile group.
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The event, which was attended by no family members, was attended by members of the Mango management committee, the board of directors and a group of 40 company executives. Also present were some employees and former historical collaborators, as well as the former presidents of the Generalitat Jordi Pujol and José Montilla, Javier Godó, Count of Godó, president-editor of La Vanguardia , the businessman Lluís Bassat, Josep Sánchez Llibre (Foment), Josep Oliu (Sabadell), Pau Relat (Fira), Maurici Lucena (Aena) and Enrique Lacalle (Círculo Ecuestre), among others.
The ceremony was also attended by Puig's president, Marc Puig, a member of the board of directors of Mango and a personal friend of Isak Andic, and the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. Both recalled Andic's career and his value as a businessman and as a person, collaborating with a multitude of entities and with extensive philanthropic activity.
The company is immersed in an ambitious growth plan with the aim of exceeding 4 billion euros in 2026. In parallel, it has had to restructure its corporate governance following the death of the founder, who, although he was removed from the daily management of the company, continued to lead the strategic vision.
Illa: “It is one of the life and business careers that has generated the most prosperity for Catalonia”This process has concluded with the promotion of Toni Ruiz to the top of the textile chain . The Andic family and the board of directors have given him full executive powers by confirming him as president less than a month ago, a position that he will combine with that of CEO, which he already held. For his part, the eldest son of the deceased businessman, Jonathan Andic, has assumed the vice-presidency. The decision reaffirms the separation of the daily management of the firm from the ownership, a professionalized structure that Isak Andic promoted a few years ago.
The three Andic siblings (Jonathan, Judith and Sarah) have also shared positions in the family's various companies, grouped under Punta Na Holding, and through which they control 95% of Mango.
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