Ernest Pérez-Mas regains the position of CEO of Parlem after the resignation of Capellades

A plot twist at the Catalan telecommunications company Parlem. The company's CEO, Xavier Capellades, has resigned, and Parlem's president and founder, Ernest Pérez-Mas, will resume executive functions and replace him. This change—which the company says is for personal reasons and by mutual agreement—comes amidst negotiations with Avatel for a possible merger, a preliminary agreement that was made public in December and was currently undergoing due diligence.due diligenceSources close to the negotiations explained to ARA that the talks with Inveready—Avatel's main shareholder, with approximately 50% of the capital—had become "complicated," as the initial agreement stipulated that Hablem would acquire Avatel's infrastructure and clients in exchange for Hablem's shares. This arrangement was not to everyone's liking. Back to the origin

Xavier Capellades obtained the position of CEO of the telecom in June 2024, but had already been part of Parlem's management team since 2023. Furthermore, although Ernest Pérez-Mas had stepped down from top executive roles, he is "very involved" in the negotiations with Avatel, and it is "normal that he wants to lead this process again," as.

With these changes, the Parlem group's board of directors now consists of four members: Ernest Pérez-Mas (executive chairman), Albert Buxadé Herrera, Carme Hortalà Vallvé, and Ona Capital Privat SCR, SA, represented by Oriol Lobo Baquer.

Looking ahead, we have long discussed its intention to grow through mergers and acquisitions, and the Avatel deal is not the only operation the company has on the horizon. For the time being, the company states that it is committed to "a new phase focused on strengthening operational efficiency, simplifying the organization, and boosting cash generation." In this context, the company has implemented an internal reorganization with teams that are "more agile, focused, and aligned with the new strategic objectives," and also points to the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the central pillars of its transformation.