The private business foundation FemCat held its annual assembly this Thursday, where, as every two years, a new president was chosen and the composition of the board of trustees that governs the entity was partially renewed. The hundred members of FemCat have placed their trust in one of their most veteran partners, the metallurgical businessman Oriol Guixà, who will serve as president in 2024 and 2025, replacing David Marin, who took over from Elena Massot in January 2022.
Guixà, who is the president of the La Farga group, will have four vice presidents: Xavier Fitó, executive director of Semillas Fitó; Jaume Sanabra, CEO of Marlex; Jaume Alsina Cornellana, general director of BonÀrea Agrupa; and Eulàlia Planes, CEO of Dispur, the investment arm of thefamily officeof the Planes family, a Fluidra shareholder. Fitó is the only vice president who already held the position in the previous term; Joan Font, president of Bon Preu; Ariadna Marin, general director of Coatresa; and Oriol Pinya, founding partner of Abac Capital, have ceased to hold this position. Ariadna Marin and Oriol Pinya continue as trustees of FemCat, while Font has left the board. Among others, Josep Martínez Vila (Saba) and Mercè Pujol (Ficosa) also cease to be trustees in this term. Together with the president and the four vice presidents, the board is made up of Maria Josep Arasa (Faura-Casas), Jordi Bagó (Serhs), Núria Basi (Basi Group), Montserrat Braut (Braut Eix Ambiental), Xavier Cambra (Grup Enciclopèdia), Carles Cuyàs (FredVic), Ezequiel Giró (Grup Giró), Ricard Huguet (Invenio Learn By Doing), Gabriel Jené (La Mallorquina), Josep Lagares (Metalquimia), Sandra Llavina (Toyota Teams Motor), Manel Mas-Bagà (Cat Barcelona), Ariadna Marin (Coatresa), Mercè Mullor (Mullor), David Nogareda (Hipra), Ernest Pérez-Mas (Parlem), Oriol Pinya (Abac Capital), Joan Pujol (Constructora Calaf), Xim Raurich (Grup Tramuntana), Santiago Sabatés (Eurofragance) and Gemma Vivet (Gepork). Inmaculada Amat (Amat Immobiliaris) remains as secretary and Ricard González (Infraplan) as treasurer. The board is completed with the eight honorary trustees, who are the eight presidents FemCat has had since its inception: Joaquim Boixareu (Irestal), Josep Mateu (Racc), Carles Sumarroca (Agromillora), Miquel Martí (Moventia), Ramon Carbonell (Bonvent), Pau Relat (MAT Holding), Elena Massot (Vertix) and David Marin (Inacces Geotécnica Vertical). Since last May, Muntsa Vilalta has held the general management of the foundation, replacing Teresa Navarro. An Industrial Engineer and Aeronautical Engineer, Oriol Guixà Arderiu began his professional career at Montesa, where he was responsible for the R&D department of the motorcycle company and actively participated in the creation of the joint venture with Honda Motor Company. In 1980, he became a shareholder in La Farga Lacambra, a group that, first as general director and then as president and CEO, he has transformed into the leader in the production of copper semi-finished products from recycled raw material. With a presence in 74 countries and headquarters in Les Masies de Voltregà (Barcelona),La Farga has more than 420 employees and in 2022 had a turnover of 1,566 million euros.Today, at the helm of the company's day-to-day operations is his daughter, Inka Guixà, who holds the position of CEO.The challenges of FemCatAccording to FemCat, in this new stage Oriol Guixà "proposes to activate the international learnings from the trips of benchmarking---nine have been made so far---, on major strategic themes: research, innovation and technology transfer, infrastructure and air connectivity, promotion of entrepreneurship, industrial competitiveness, dual VET or digital and efficient administration, always with a long-term vision." The foundation, which brings together entrepreneurs who manage more than 500 companies, also highlights that "Catalonia will be valued as a connected system, creating synergies of all assets, resources and potential in the territory to be a stronger economy, and the innovation ecosystem and knowledge transfer will be promoted by fostering active collaboration platforms between the business and entrepreneurial sector with academic institutions, technology centers and public administration." In the 2022-2023 mandate that has now ended, David Marin has promoted "a strategic reflection process" that has led the foundation tostructure its activity into broad areas: education/talent, knowledge transfer, and quality public management.Among the initiatives promoted by FemCat, the following stands out: School and Business Program, which has allowed bringing the business world closer to more than ten thousand 4th year ESO and baccalaureate students. Marin also promoted ainitiative to promote knowledge of foreign languagesto improve the competitiveness of the Catalan business fabric; and led thebenchmarking trip to Switzerlandthat took place last October to learn about its ecosystem and innovation model.Add The New Barcelona Post as your preferred Google source for free
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