Comess Group has announced the decision to Manuel RobledoThe President and Chief Executive Officer, who until now held the position of Executive Chairman, has decided to step aside and leaving his executive dutiesto continue to be associated with the company as a shareholder and member of the board of directors. Subsequently, the company has communicated its decision to appoint Iñaki de Olazabal as new Director General,to lead the growth project set by its shareholders.
With his decision, Manuel Robledo marks the end of a period of more than 20 years during which the Group has experienced continuous growth through the acquisition of new franchises and the entry of new investors. Due to the great performance carried out by the founder throughout these years, the Comess Group's shareholders -very grateful for his management- have decided to appoint him to the position of "Honorary President", Robledo will retain a representative and institutional position in the company.
For its part, Iñaki de Olazabalwho, since last February, has held the position of Financial Director of Comess Grouphas extensive and extensive expertise in the retail, food and restaurant sectors, both in national and international firms. In this regard, he has four years of executive experience in D+1 Holding, a multi-brand operator in Asia and Europe of well-known franchises such as Llaollao, Yolé and Tapas Club. De Olazabal holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the Complutense University of Madrid, is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Master Business Essentials (CORe) and holds the CCA Certificate® (Chartered Controller Analyst) issued by the Global Chartered Controller Institute.
The new manager will therefore be responsible for consolidate and reinforce the current leadership of a company that already operates a network of 400 outlets under its different brands: Lizarran (tapas tavern), Pomodoro (Italian restaurants), Levaduramadre (high quality artisan bakeries), Cantina Mariachi (Mexican restaurants), DonG (Spanish fast food), Garcia House (traditional Spanish bar) and Pieology (pizzerias).
An evolutionary change
Manuel Robledo, Honorary President of Comess GroupHe said: "It is never easy to step aside, but I consider that I am leaving the presidency of Comess Group at the best moment the company has ever experienced, having become the undisputed leader of the organised franchise sector in our country. I have no doubt that Iñaki's management skills, together with the financial capabilities of our investors, will allow us to consolidate this leadership, replicating, through new acquisitions and openings, the success that we have been achieving together".
"His knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the company in order to accelerate, on the basis of an excellent performance throughout this financial year 2021, the implementation of the growth strategy designed by Comess Group's shareholders to offer our customers the best products and services and thus continue to be a reference in the catering sector for our customers," he adds. Manuel Robledo.
Iñaki de Olazabal, General Manager of Comess GroupIt is an honour for me to take on the great responsibility of leading a group that Manuel has been able to drive from its beginnings to become the giant it is today," he said. I would like to thank all my colleagues, board members and investors for trusting me to develop such an exciting activity and to continue growing in a key sector for the Spanish business fabric such as the restaurant industry".
