Apple changes its first executive

Apple announced this week a change in its executive structure. A change of CEO that, beyond the change of names, represents a whole new era for the apple company. In addition, this week the Port of Barcelona announced that it is restructuring its management team.

John Ternus

CEO of Apple

After the death of Steve Jobs in 2011, Tim Cook took the reins of the manufacturer of iPhones and Macintosh computers. Three lustrums later, the executive decides to step aside and will become executive chairman of the company, in a move announced months after turning 65. John Ternus, 51, will now be in charge of leading the company, in a change scheduled to take effect on September 1. Ternus's appointment suggests a certain desire to put the product back at the center. Or so it can be interpreted from his figure, who has been key in the development of Apple's chips and various company devices. Since 2021, he was vice president of hardware engineering, a position that allowed him to lead the computer design of the different devices of the apple brand, be they mobile phones, computers, watches, or headphones. He has worked at Apple since 2001. One of the big unknowns he will have to clarify is whether he, coming from the physical side, intends to give the company a boost in the field of artificial intelligence. Apple was a pioneer in the field of electronic butlers with the Siri system, but has maintained a discreet activity while various players took positions in the generative AI market. One of the hypotheses that have circulated in the sector is that the next step – for a company that has been characterized by setting the standard in devices – will be to present some kind of robot that incorporates artificial intelligence in a revolutionary way. The appointment of engineer Ternus would be consistent with this possibility.

Carles Rua

Head of Strategy and Subsidies of the Port of Barcelona

The Port of Barcelona has made effective the reorganization of the teams and functions of the general sub-directorate of innovation and business strategy with the aim of strengthening efficiency and optimizing available resources, thus increasing coordination between the different areas and directorates. The changes in the internal organization of the Port, approved by the board of directors held last November, have occurred due to the future retirement of its general sub-director of innovation and business strategy, Santiago Garcia-Milà. As a result of this reorganization, a new directorate of innovation and blue economy strategy has been created, which is integrated within the general sub-directorate of organization and internal resources, led by Catalina Grimalt. This directorate develops functions related to innovation, logistics, and the blue economy, and is directed by Emma Cobos.

The new general sub-directorate of finance, corporate management, and strategy, headed by Miriam Alaminos, develops, in addition to economic and financial functions, those related to the strategy of the Port of Barcelona (collection and evaluation of strategic proposals, development and monitoring of the strategic plan, project management, and others) and corporate management and company support for its subsidiaries. Within this sub-directorate, Carles Rua is the new head of strategy and subsidies. Rua is an industrial engineer from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, where he has been a professor for 25 years and also a collaborator in the master's degree in executive supply chain management at UPC. Before joining the Port of Barcelona in 2002, he worked as an engineer in various consulting firms. For his part, Jordi Torrent, until now head of strategy, will leave the Port on May 1st. With this reorganization, the directorate of institutional relations, led by Ingrid Boqué, has also been strengthened, incorporating people with responsibilities in the areas of international relations.

Heidi O'Neill

CEO of Lululemon

The board of directors of Lululemon Athletica has announced the appointment of Heidi O'Neill as the new chief executive officer of the textile company, famous for its leggings for yoga and pilates, starting September 8. Until O'Neill's arrival, a veteran of the sector with over 25 years of experience in various positions of responsibility at Nike, Meghan Frank and André Maestrini will continue as interim co-CEOs and will resume their previous senior management positions once the handover is complete. "Heidi is an inspiring leader and a consumer-focused, proven brand strategist with an exceptional ability to envision a new future for a brand and create the structure and processes needed to bring that vision to life," said Marti Morfitt, executive chair of Lululemon's board of directors.

The company's next CEO has highlighted that Lululemon has a global platform "that is still in the early stages of its potential" and added that, upon taking office in September, her work will consist of accelerating product advancements, strengthening the brand's cultural relevance, and driving growth in markets around the world.

Manuel Puig

Executive Commission of Colonial

The Puig family, main shareholder of the perfume and fashion group Puig Brands, which is negotiating a merger with Estée Lauder, from the United States, is strengthening its position in Colonial. The real estate firm has incorporated Manuel Puig, vice-president of Puig Brands, into its executive commission, the highest management body.

Puig Rocha represents the stake of the family holding Exea Inversiones Inmobiliarias on Colonial's board of directors, where they hold around 8% of the capital. Rocha, an industrial engineer from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), is a member of the boards of directors of Exea Empresarial, Isdin (50% owned by Puig and Esteve), Flamagas (owned by Puig), Fluidra (of which he is a shareholder) and RACC.

Alejandra Kindelán

President of the AEB

The Spanish Banking Association (AEB) –the Spanish banking employers' association– has re-elected Alejandra Kindelán as president for a new four-year term. The decision was made during the AEB's annual general meeting. Kindelán thanked them for her re-election and expressed her satisfaction at representing the banking sector for another term. According to the employers' association, during her speech at the assembly, Kindelán stressed the importance of unleashing the full potential of the banking sector to support the real economy and finance Europe's strategic needs.

In this regard, she advocated for advancing regulatory and supervisory simplification and for promoting European integration. To this end, she considered it necessary to develop a comprehensive vision of capital requirements, greater predictability of supervisory decisions, and to make the objective of financial stability compatible with driving economic growth. During the next term, she will also focus on supporting the interoperability of European payment systems, particularly through the alliance led by Bizum, which will connect 130 million customers in 13 countries this year.