Game of chairs in the Catalan perfume shop

BarcelonaChanges at the top of Puig. Its executive chairman, Marc Puig, will step down as CEO of the Catalan perfume and beauty company, and will be replaced by José Manuel Albesa, currently the company's deputy CEO. Meanwhile, the outgoing chairman of the private association Barcelona Global has proposed investor Josep Lluís Sanfeliu as his successor, a name that must be ratified by the members in June. There are also changes at Ysios Capital – co-founded by Sanfeliu – Marlex, and CIM Tax & Legal. These are the most notable appointments of the week.

Marc Puig steps down as CEO of Puig, but remains as executive chairman

The Catalan multinational fragrance company Puig has appointed a new CEO. Executive José Manuel Albesa, currently the company's deputy CEO, will assume the role, which is currently held—along with the chairmanship of the group—by Marc Puig, the company announced this week in a press release. With this appointment, Marc Puig will step down from the chairmanship but will remain as executive chairman. The decision to separate the chairman and CEO positions, which were previously held by the same person, is "in line with best practices for listed companies," according to the company. "Separating the roles aligns with the highest standards of good practice," the group chairman stated in the same press release.

Besides being the deputy CEO, Albesa is currently also the chairman ofbeauty and fashion(beauty and fashion) of the group worldwide, "with responsibility for global operations and all Puig divisions," the statement explains. The executive joined the company in 1998 and has held various positions in brand development, marketing, and operations, in addition to playing "a central role in the strategic development and international expansion of the group's fragrance and fashion portfolio," according to the company itself.

In addition to Albesa's appointment, the multinational's board of directors also approved the replacement of Joan Albiol by Miquel Àngel Serra as chief financial officer (chief financial officeror CFO). Albiol, who had held the position since 2009, will remain as secretary of the board of directors. Puig, headquartered in Hospitalet de Llobregat, is one of the world's leading companies in the perfume and makeup sector, with brands such as Carolina Herrera, Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Nina Ricci. In 2025, Puig's revenue reached €5.042 billion, a 5.3% increase year-on-year, with a profit of €594 million, an 11.9% rise. A family business since its inception, it went public in May 2024 andIt was included in the Ibex-35 group.–the index that groups the 35 largest companies on the Spanish stock exchanges– two months later.

Josep Lluís Sanfeliu will be the next president of Barcelona Global

The president of Barcelona Global, Ramon Agenjo, proposed this week to the executive committee of the private association Josep Lluís Sanfeliu, founding partner of Asabys Partners, as his successor as president for the 2026-2028 term. The proposal has been unanimously accepted by all members of the executive committee and must be approved by the general assembly of members on June 19, following a favorable recommendation from the entity's supervisory board, which will meet on May 20.

Josep Lluís Sanfeliu is a founding partner of Asabys Partners, a European fund specializing in investment in biotechnology, medical technology, and digital health. He also co-founded Ysios Capital, a pioneer in venture capital in the biomedicine sector in Spain. Throughout his career, he has financed numerous companies that have emerged from hospitals, universities, and research centers. Within Barcelona Global, Sanfeliu currently chairs the organization's Life Sciences division, having been a member of the association since its inception. He has also served on several executive committees under presidents Emili Cuatrecasas, Maite Barrera, and the current president, Ramon Agenjo. Ramon Agenjo, a board member and secretary of the board of directors of Damm, president of the Cacaolat Group, and trustee of the Damm Foundation, has presided over Barcelona Global since June 2024. Barcelona Global's bylaws stipulate that the terms of office for presidents and the executive committee are two years, and for the current president, one term.

Ysios Capital adds two new partners

Ysios Capital, co-founded by Sanfeliu – although he is no longer part of it – has also announced changes in its leadership. The European life sciences venture capital firm has announced the appointment of Joan Perelló as managing partner.Managing Partner) and Arturo Urrios as a partner (Partner) of the company. With these appointments, the firm launches a new strategic vertical focused on the creation of companies and startup projects in biotechnology, with a special emphasis on Spain. The initiative aims to allow Ysios Capital to work more closely with universities, research centers, and scientific entrepreneurs to identify biomedical innovation opportunities and support their development until they become established biotechnology companies.

Joan Perelló joined Ysios Capital as Venture Partner in 2022 and now joins the team as Managing PartnerFrom there, he will lead the development of this new vertical. Perelló, a graduate in chemistry and PhD in the same field from the University of the Balearic Islands, where he also teaches analytical and clinical chemistry, is an entrepreneur with extensive experience in research and development and in the creation and management of companies in the life sciences sector. He has founded two spin-offs academics and has been president of several companies biotech and medtech in Spain and France. He is co-founder and former CEO of Sanifit, a biotechnology company based in Palma that raised more than 140 million euros before being acquired by Vifor Pharma for 375 million euros.

For his part, Arturo Urrios joins Ysios Capital as Partner to drive the development of this new vertical. He holds a degree in human biology, a master's degree in biomedical research, an MBA, and a PhD in biomedicine. He has worked at the BioInnovation Institute, Wellington Partners, and M Ventures (Merck's corporate venture capital fund). He was also part of the founding team of Seamless Therapeutics, where he led business development and corporate strategy. He is also a mentor in innovation programs and co-founder of YVC Collective, the leading European association of emerging professionals in the field. venture capital of life sciences.

Joan Ferrer joins the management team of Marlex in Girona.

Marlex, a human resources company based in Girona, has appointed Joan Ferrer as its new deputy CEO. The company announced this week that Ferrer's role is to "strengthen the company's structure during its phase of territorial expansion and business development with major accounts." Ferrer has nearly 30 years of experience in the human resources sector, having held senior positions at the multinational Adecco.

Blanca Llopart, new partner at CIM Tax & Legal

The office boutique Barcelona-based CIM Tax & Legal, specializing in legal and tax advice to family businesses, high-net-worth individuals, family offices and other private clients, has promoted Blanca Llopart to partner at the firm. With this appointment, the boutique It expands its management structure, becoming three partners, along with Carlos Muñoz and Emma S. Corretger.

Llopart joined the firm in 2020 and, after just over five years within the structure, has now achieved the status of partner; her promotion recognizes her contribution to the development of the firm and her consolidation in the team.