No one likes to go where they believe they will not be well received or where an ovation is not a given. That is what the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, must have thought, as he last attended the Family Business Institute (IEF) congress in October 2018 in Valencia. From 2019 to 2025, he stopped attending, even though this powerful lobby had invited him. It includes some of the main companies controlled by families, from Mercadona to Banco Santander, Barceló, Banca March, Mango, or Amancio López's Hotusa, which joined last year.

Busy week in the offices of large Catalan and Spanish companies. While last week the Catalan perfume company Puig restructured its leadership, this week it was Endesa's turn, which will have a new CEO from April, and Criteria, which has restructured its board. The IEF will also have a new president, this time Catalan, for a period of two years. And the Catalan telecom company Parlem regains Pérez-Mas as CEO amidst disputes with Avatel. These are the most notable hires of the week.

The board of directors of the Institute for Family Business (IEF) will propose Eloi Planes, president of the Catalan company Fluidra, as its successor at Wednesday's assembly, according to information obtained by ARA. Currently, the IEF is chaired by Ignacio Rivera, president of Corporación Hijos de Rivera, whose term expires in 2026. However, the appointment must be approved by the IEF members' assembly—to be held in Barcelona—the IEF's highest decision-making body, which will meet in May. Typically, the candidate proposed by the board is approved unanimously at the assembly, so it is highly likely that Planes will become the institution's seventeenth president. Planes, president of the Catalan swimming pool giant Fluidra, is currently a member of the IEF board and has long been considered a possible successor to Rivera at the head of the association. Rivera assumed the presidency of the organization in May 2024, succeeding Andrés Sendagorta, president of Sener. The terms stipulated for the presidency of the IEF are two years and non-renewable, according to the institution's statutes, and outgoing presidents generally join the board as members.

The world is changing. The entire international and geopolitical system that emerged from the Second World War has given way to another dominated by the struggle and competition for power, with two giants like the US and China, although the dollar has so far won the battle. And "in a fragmented world, being local and having roots is today a competitive advantage." This is a statement by José Juan Ruiz, president of the Elcano Royal Institute, a renowned expert. think tank private, which participated in the 28th edition of the National Congress of Family Business, held in Burgos under the motto Origin/Destination.

The president of the Family Business Institute (IEF), Ignacio Rivera, stated this Tuesday that companies and their executives are concerned about the "electoral mode" in which the political situation is currently taking place, and that it is "lasting longer and longer." In a meeting with journalists after closing the 28th IEF congress, held in Burgos, Rivera called on politicians to focus on solving problems and stressed the importance of "talking," because "the challenges we face are clear."

The president of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, took advantage of his speech at the 28th National Congress of Family Businesses in Burgos to flatter the business representatives in attendance, who gave him a standing ovation. "More GDP and less Official State Gazette," the PP leader summarized, referring to the gross domestic product (GDP) – that is, growth – and the Official State Gazette –that is, regulation–. He also promised to review "the 97 tax increases," including social security contributions, of the current Spanish government and to implement tax cuts if he wins the elections. In any case, he did not specify which taxes he would lower.

Family businesses view the economic situation with some optimism, giving it a score of 5.66 on a scale of 0 to 9, higher than they estimated a year ago. Nearly half expect moderate economic growth and limited net job creation, at 48%; although another 47% believe growth will be fragile without net job creation. 52% estimate they will maintain their current workforce.