Mango Founder Isak Andic Dies In Mountain Accident Near Barcelona

Montserrat

The businessman, one of Spain’s great fortunes, died this afternoon at the age of 71 after falling down a ravine next to some caves in the Montserrat massif

These caves were formerly used for saltpeter mining; their organic shapes inspired Antoni Gaudí to design the Sagrada Familia. Andic, 71, was passionate about the mountains and hiking and was spending a day of leisure with part of his family.

The family alerted 112 at around 12.30 on Saturday. The Medical Emergency System (SEM) sent a medical helicopter and an ambulance. However, when they arrived at the scene of the accident, the doctors were only able to confirm that the 71-year-old man who had accidentally fallen down the ravine on the path to the Salnitre caves – a trail that leads to the Montserrat monastery – had died. According to the initial report from the Mossos d’Esquadra, one of the businessman’s three children (the son, Jonathan Andic) was at the scene of the accident. SEM professionals have been providing psychological support to the family, the same sources have confirmed to this newspaper.

Consternat per la pèrdua d’Isak Andic, empresari compromès que, amb el seu lideratge, ha contribuït a fer gran Catalunya i projectar-la al món. Deixa una empremta inesborrable en el sector de la moda catalana i global. El meu condol i el de tot el Govern a familiars, amics i a…

— Salvador Illa Roca (@salvadorilla) December 14, 2024

“We saw helicopters flying over the area and also the firefighters, but they told us that we had nothing to know about what had happened,” explained a guide from the Salnitre caves by telephone in the early afternoon. The guide was aware of the incident, but not of the death of a person. He also indicated that the path where the accident occurred (which starts from the caves and leads, after almost two hours of walking, to the Montserrat monastery) is crisscrossed by ravines and can be, in some places, tricky.

From left, King Felipe VI, Mango’s president and founder, Isak Andic, and the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, during the presentation ceremony of the VIII Kingdom of Spain Award for Business Career, in Barcelona on March 18, 2024.Lorena Sopêna / Europa Press (Europa Press)

Andic, the non-executive chairman of Mango and owner of the fashion company, is the richest man in Catalonia and one of the richest men in Spain: his estimated wealth is 4.5 billion euros and increased by 1.8 billion euros last year. Although he was not very given to public exposure, he had been keeping up a busy schedule in recent days.

On Thursday at midday, the businessman attended the presentation of the future Thyssen Museum in the Saló de Cent of the City Hall. There he spoke with Carmen Cervera in the huddles at the end of the event, where the founder of Mango spoke to him about “new projects” that he was “very excited about”. The baroness and the businessman agreed to meet in a couple of weeks, when Cervera returned from his residence in Andorra. Afterwards, he had lunch with the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and with the Minister of Business, Miquel Sàmper, in the Palau de la Generalitat, as confirmed by sources from the Government. Andic’s next planned public event was a conference before alumni at IESE, which was to be held in November but was postponed because it coincided with the Dana.

“He has left an indelible mark”

“It is with deep regret that we announce the unexpected death of Isak Andic, our non-executive chairman and founder of Mango, in an accident that occurred this Saturday,” said the CEO of the fashion company, Toni Ruiz. “Isak has been an example for all of us. He has dedicated his life to the Mango project, leaving an indelible mark thanks to his strategic vision, his inspiring leadership and his unwavering commitment to values ​​that he himself has instilled in our company,” he added in a note released after 4:30 p.m. “His legacy,” the text adds, “reflects the achievements of a business project marked by success, and also by his human quality, his proximity and the care and affection that, at all times, he has conveyed to the entire organization.” Ruiz has committed to “ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak aspired to and of which he would be proud.”

The sudden death of Andic has generated a cascade of reactions from the business and political world as the news has come to light. President Illa, who had seen him just two days earlier, has expressed his “consternation” at Andic’s death, whom he has described as a “committed businessman” who “has contributed to making Catalonia great and projecting it to the world”. Illa has conveyed his condolences to “family, friends and the Mango team”. The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has also joined in with his condolences: “All my love and recognition for his great work and business vision, which has turned this Spanish firm into a world reference in fashion”, he wrote on the social network X after 6 pm. On the same network, the president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has conveyed his condolences: “I regret the death of Isak Andic, founder of Mango, a Spanish business group that is a reference in the textile and fashion sector at an international level. The Circle of Businessman has expressed its deepest regret for the death of Isak Andic, whom they have described as an “exemplary businessman.”

Inditex president Marta Ortega stressed that Andic’s death is “sad news for all those who were lucky enough to know him and a great loss for the Spanish business world and for the global fashion sector.”

The Mayor of Barcelona, ​​Jaume Collboni, also expressed his regret: “His passion for fashion, his commitment to society and his deep love for Barcelona and Catalonia have left an indelible mark. A philanthropist, visionary and leader, he has projected our city to the world, making Mango a global benchmark and inspiring generations of new talents,” said the Mayor before offering his condolences to his family and assuring that “Barcelona will always remember his legacy with pride and gratitude.”

The president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE) has lamented the death of the founder of Mango, pointing out that it is “a great loss for the Spanish business community”. The Círculo de Empresarios has described him as an “exemplary businessman” and the Catalan employers’ association Foment del Treball has defined him as a “reference for the internationalisation of Catalan fashion”.

Statement from Neubauer Artists & George V Magazine

“Prince Jorge Jimenez Neubauer Torres V, Owner of Neubauer Artists and George V Magazine sends warm condolences to his family during this difficult time. Mango has been a great supporter while venturing in our businesses making us feel adopted by their firm while we provide their advertisements. May he rest in peace.”

Neubauer Artists