multinationals entrust their direction to Spanish talent

This year 4 Spaniards have reached the top of multinationals as recognizable as Nestle, Ikea, Decathlon and Pandora. Pablo Isla, Juvencio Maeztu, Javier López and, as of next January 1, Berta de Pablos – Barbier hold or will hold the maximum executive responsibility in these companies, either as president or CEO. All 4 meet at least one of these two conditions: they are what is known as ‘house profiles’‘and they have an extensive international experience behind him. The ‘2025 harvest’ joins the select club of Spaniards, who run large international companies and to which names such as Belen Garijo (Merck), Enrique Lores (Hewlett-Packard), Ramon Laguarta (PepsiCo), Joaquin Duato (Johnson & Johnson) or Federico J. González Knitter (Radisson Hotel Group), among others.

Pablo Islas (Nestlé): A curvy landing

The most media is Pablo Islawho was president of Inditex between 2011 and 2022. In addition to CEO and vice president of the textile group between 2005 and 2011. In both positions he succeeded Amancio Ortega, founder of the company. Before landing at the headquarters, Arteixo had been executive president of Altadis between 2002 and 2005. This State lawyer has presided over Nestlé since last October 1 succeeding Paul Bulcke, after being linked since 2018 to the governing body of the multinational based in the Swiss city of Vevey as a director and, since 2024, as vice president. The landing was somewhat bumpy, since the transition was brought forward half a year on the schedule initially planned after the scandal broke out over the romantic relationship between the former CEO of the food group Laurent Freixe and a direct subordinate. An ‘affair’ that ended with his dismissal and the arrival of Philip Navratil as new CEO.

Pablo Isla has presided over Nestlé since last October 1, although he has been linked to being appointed as an independent director of the management body in 2018. His arrival, brought forward after the ‘affair’ of former CEO Laurent Freixe, has begun with the announcement of a reduction of 16,000 positions until 2027

If Isla’s landing was not free of turbulence, the first steps are not being easy either. Just 15 days later, Navratil opened Pandora’s box and announced the multinational’s plan to eliminate 16,000 jobs in the next two years (12,000 of them in administrative tasks and the rest in the production area). The objective is reduce costs by around 1,075 million euros in 2027just over 1 billion Swiss francs. Which has sown concern among the 4,060 workers that Nestlé Spain has who, according to sources consulted by this medium, They still don’t know the ‘small print’ of these adjustments for its Spanish subsidiary. The new CEO justified the ‘snip’ by the decline in sales recorded in the first nine months of the year, which represented a loss of 1,290 million euros, according to Navratil. An announcement that was received by loud applause from the markets and a rise in the stock markets of 8%.

A Spaniard at the head of the “IKEA world”

Much calmer is the journey of Juvencio Maeztu (Cádiz, 1968) as global CEO of Ikea since the beginning of November. It so happens that he is the first non-Swede to head it. In an interview with ‘La Información Económica’ he summarized his objectives like this: “My closest priority in the coming years is grow and grow in both mature and new markets. He also added that his other two major goals would be “to be more efficient as a company”, as well as “much more agile and simpler.” Maeztu meets the two characteristics that unite these 4 senior executives: he has experience outside of Spain, since he has been a store director in Wembley (United Kingdom) and directed the implementation of IKEA in India between 2012 and 2018. But, above all, he is ‘a man of the house’ because he joined IKEA in 2001 and has held positions as diverse as store management and Deputy CEO between 2018 and 2025. “I started at IKEA 25 years ago, because my wife worked at IKEA and I was attracted to it,” he commented when asked about his arrival at the company.

“”I started at IKEA 25 years ago, because my wife worked at IKEA and I was attracted to it,” declared the new global CEO of IKEA Juvencio Maeztu in an interview in ‘La Información Económica’

Javier López, “a decathlonian with 26 years of experience”

This year has also been full of changes for the French company Decathlon. The sports equipment giant announced on March 27 the appointment of Julien Leclercq as president of the Decathlon Group and the replacement of the Franco-Spanish Barbara Martin Coppola, at the head of the company from 2022. Martín Coppola’s successor was appointed Javier Lopez. This Spanish executive knows well the insides of the French company founded in 1976, since he has been linked to it for 26 years where he has held different positions in areas as diverse as digital, logistics and retail. The new top executive directed Decathlon Germany between 2012 and 2015, in addition to occupying the top management of the Spanish subsidiary from 2015 to 2022 promoting strong expansion in the Spanish market. For 3 years he served as Global Chief Value Chain Officer.

On the day of his appointment, the new CEO declared that “as a Decathlonian with 26 years of experience, I am proud of the work we have done over the years, to bring the benefits of sport to more and more people around the world.” López’s goal was to boost the economic development of this sportswear giant and fulfill its human and environmental commitments. Especially regarding cost optimization, the great priority this year. The sports equipment giant closed in 2024 with a turnover of 16.2 billion euros3.8% more than in the previous year, after adjusting for unfavorable exchange rates.

Berta De Pablos-Barbier, future CEO of Pandora, landed at the Danish group in November 2024 as marketing director, but between 2020 and 2025 she was already president and CEO of Moët & Chandon (LVMH Group)

From Moët&Chandon to Pandora

As with Pablo Isla at Nestlé, the Spanish Berta De Pablos-Barbier will assume the role of CEO of Pandora in advance. It will do it 3 months before, on January 1st. The Copenhagen-based jewelery group employs 37,000 people and its pieces, made from recycled silver and gold, are sold to more than 100 countries. Last year it reported revenue of €4.2 billion. De Pablos-Barbier declared on December 15 that “its immediate objective will be to navigate the current market turbulence as we prepare to take advantage of our untapped opportunities as a comprehensive jewelry brand and drive long-term growth.” Although the next CEO of Pandora landed at the brand in November 2024, as marketing director, she accumulates a rich international experience. For example, before the Danish company she was president and CEO of Moët & Chandon (LVMH Group) between 2020 and 2024, as well as growth director of the multinational confectionery company Mars Wringley (2015-2020) and general marketing director of Lacoste in 2012.