The changeover at the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona already has a date: next Monday, October 9. Except for a surprise that no one ventures today, Josep Santacreu will be named president, replacing Mònica Roca, as reflected in the results of the voting held on September 20.
On Monday, the plenary session of the institution will be constituted with the 52 elected members and the six appointed by the employers’ associations Foment del Treball and Pimec to vote for the new president and his executive committee.
Santacreu, heading the Va d’Empresa list, directly obtained 26 of the positions in contention, compared to 21 for the independence and continuity candidacy led by Mònica Roca and Toni Fitó. It also has the support of those appointed by the employers’ associations and most likely with almost all the independents who have obtained the position without being part of either list. That would give a result of 37 votes in favor of Santacreu to 21 for the Eines de País-Un Pas Més list.
Those five independents are Banc Sabadell, Saba, Gym Online -company controlled by Gerard Esteva, president of the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia-, Promoción Hotelera Layetana -Jordi Clos’ company- and Marta Gento, vice-treasurer of the College of Pharmacists of Barcelona And on behalf of the employers are Eloi Planas (Fluidra), Anna Cornadó (Copisa), Ignacio Marull (PWC), Emma Gumbert (Gumbert), Martina Font (Font Packaging Group) and Miquel Martí (Moventia).
Among the businessmen who have supported the former CEO of the insurance company DKV are, among others, Oriol Guixà (La Farga), Josep Ametller (Casa Ametller) and Emili Rousaud (Factorenergia), in addition to Eloi Planes, who enters at the proposal of Foment . It is expected that an important part of them will join the new executive committee, which is just being set up.
For the operation of the institution, Santacreu has expressed his desire to have the current staff because, as he assures, “there is a lot of talent,” although without ruling out incorporations.
Santacreu and his team have promised management focused exclusively on business interests, without excluding large, small or self-employed people. And also without political bias, unlike what has happened in the last four years.
