More links between politicians and energy companies, and other signings of the week

BarcelonaRevolving doors between politicians and energy companies are nothing new. Despite the criticism that Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) has leveled at the Congress of Deputies, where it has rebuked the members of the junts who "put their friends in Spanish companies" - words that Gabriel Rufián directed at the Junts spokesperson in Congress, Míriam Nogueras - or also said: "Press conferences with the flag," it is a former ERC politician, Albert Castellanos, former right-hand man of Oriol Junqueras and Secretary of Business during the government of Pere Aragonès, who enters the council of Redeia, the parent company of Red Eléctrica. Beyond this signing, a Telefónica executive joins the board of Círculo Ecuestre, and Barça has a new communications director.

Castellanos joins Redeia as an independent director.

Redeia, the parent company of Red Eléctrica de España and 20% controlled by the state through SEPI, has proposed the appointment of Albert Castellanos, an ERC member and former Secretary of Business and Competitiveness during the Pere Aragonès government. Redeia has called a general shareholders' meeting for June 30th—against the backdrop of the massive blackout—at which, in addition to Castellanos, it will also propose the appointment of Arancha González Laya, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs under Pedro Sánchez, as a proprietary director (at the proposal of Fabra, a former director of Enagás until the company's last meeting, as an independent director). Furthermore, Redeia has decided to renew the mandate of José María Abad, an energy expert appointed in 2021 at the proposal of the PP (People's Party), led at the time by Pablo Casado.

With a degree in Economics from Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Castellanos served as Executive Secretary of the Agency for Business Competitiveness (Acción) between 2006 and 2009. He subsequently worked at the Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants (Agaur) as Executive Director, as well as an Associate Professor at UPF and as a manager at the University of Barcelona. In 2016, he was appointed Director General of Economic Promotion in the Catalan Government, with Oriol Junqueras as Minister, and in 2017 as Secretary of the Treasury. Between 2018 and 2021, he was Pere Aragonès's right-hand man for Vice-Presidency and Economy and Finance, where he was Secretary General. He is currently President of the Assembly of European Regions and Director of Magallanes Business Consulting.

Xavier Pujol Artigas (Ficosa), new president of Sernauto

The board of directors of the Spanish Association of Automotive Suppliers, Sernauto, has unanimously elected Xavier Pujol Artigas as the new president of the distributors' association, effective July 1, 2025. Pujol Artigas is currently CEO of Ficosa, a global supplier dedicated to research, development, and efficiency for the automotive and mobility sectors.

Pujol will replace Francisco J. Riberes, who has held the presidency of Sernauto since 2021. Sernauto highlighted the strategic alliance projects and the development of international projects during his tenure "to promote the Spain brand worldwide." The work of Sernauto's vice presidents was also recognized: the general manager of Brembo, Benito Tesier, and the business unit director of Ficosa, Mercedes Pujol.

Álvaro Echevarría (Telefónica) joins the board of Círculo Ecuestre.

Álvaro Echevarría, director of the Telefónica President's Office and patron of the Telefónica Foundation, is the newest member of the Círculo Ecuestre's governing board. The addition of the executive is part of the business institution's roadmap to "further strengthen its strategic position in Catalan civil society," the institution states.

Álvaro Echevarría's arrival comes just three months after the addition of Jordi García Tabernero, general director of public affairs and sustainability at Naturgy and vice president of the Naturgy Foundation. It also follows the addition of Ramon Agenjo, president of Barcelona Global; Jordi Morral, CEO of Europastry and president of APD Catalunya; and Isabel Perea, audit partner at Grant Thornton.

Echevarría (Barcelona, ​​​​1973) holds a degree in business administration and management from Ramon Llull University (IQS Barcelona), an Executive MBA from Esade, and a PDG from Iese (University of Navarra). After serving as deputy general manager of Banc Sabadell and head of institutional relations and corporate security at the financial institution, he joined Telefónica last April as director of the office of the president and patron of the Telefónica Foundation and became a member of the executive committee. Since joining Banc Sabadell in 2002, he has held various leadership positions until being appointed deputy general manager of the financial institution in March 2023, heading the institutional relations and corporate security area. He previously worked for Retevisión and the consulting firm EY.

Gabriel Martínez, new 'communicating director' of FC Barcelona's first team

Former director of the consulting firm Roman Gabriel Martínez will be the new communications director for FC Barcelona's first team, reporting directly to Deco, a former FC Barcelona player and current sporting director. Martínez is a well-known communications professional with over 30 years of experience. Since 2023, he served as Director of Growth, Strategy, and Brand at Roman, where he was also a member of the company's management committee chaired by Silvia Alsina. Prior to Roman, Martínez was the Communications Director of the Banc Sabadell Group and also the bank's Deputy General Manager. Previously, he was CEO and founder of Wunderman Worldwide in Barcelona and Director of Marketing and Advertising at the French multinational group Damart Thermolactyl, among other senior positions.