Mango's founder, Isak Andic Ermay, 71, died yesterday at noon after falling from a height of 150 meters while walking on the final stretch of the trail that connects the Salnitre caves in Collbató with Montserrat. The businessman had set out early in the morning for a walk with his son Jonathan. They had ascended to the monastery and were just six minutes away from the stairs leading to the parking lot where they had parked the vehicle they arrived in. A few minutes past noon, the son called 911 to report that his father had slipped.
The first responders were the Medical Emergency Service (SEM), which sent a helicopter and an ambulance. From the air, the medical team located the body and determined, without the need to descend, that the man had passed away.
The next to arrive were the Mossos d'Esquadra, who, at that moment, were celebrating the arrival of the emissaries of the Three Wise Men at the Egara complex in Sabadell with the mountain rescue unit that was mobilized, along with the helicopter.
When the first patrol of the Martorell Mossos arrived at the parking lot at the beginning of the trail, the son was in a state of shock inside an ambulance, accompanied by his father's partner, golfer Estefanía Knuth, who headed to the scene as soon as they called her.
The police helicopter was able to retrieve the corpse around 2 in the afternoon, and the autopsy was performed yesterday at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences.
“He had reorganized the structure of his assets with his three children and reinforced that of Mango”
The Martorell investigative police took statements from the victim's son and partner at the police station. The young man recounted that he was descending ahead when he heard the noise of sand and stones. He turned around and saw his father slipping down the steep mountain wall, trying to brake with his hands until he fell into the void. The rescue team recovered the victim's phone and wallet, and they will return today to retrieve the shoes and jacket he was wearing.
The trail where the dramatic accident occurred begins fenced and just six minutes into the walk, there is a stretch of about a hundred meters that lacks protection. It was at that point where the businessman fell. Following heavy rains in recent days, the path was exceptionally slippery.
The wealthiest man in Catalonia rarely went out without an escort. Just yesterday, Isak Andic asked the head of his security to walk alone with his son because, after some recent disagreements, they were on good terms again.
The Mossos finished the report last night, which they will deliver to the on-duty judge in Martorell first thing in the morning.
The sudden death of the businessman has left his team in shock. The businessman had been disconnected from the daily management of the company for a few years, but he continued to act as the driving force and had gained great public prominence in the events of Mango's 40th anniversary, which have been celebrated throughout 2024. The latest one, this past Wednesday, was a large Christmas party at the Palau Sant Jordi, where Andic brought together more than 3,000 people and was seen dancing enthusiastically to the rhythm of Estopa. In March, the King presented him with the VIII Kingdom of Spain Award for Business Trajectory in Barcelona.
The victim had gone for a walk with her son Jonathan and they were on their way back when she slipped and couldn't stop the fall
The founder had entrusted the helm of the company to the current CEO, Toni Ruiz. He had forged a relationship of sincere trust with the executive. So much so, that at the end of last year he handed over 5% of the capital to him through a capital increase. It was the first time the company had opened up shareholding to someone other than its founder.
Andic had managed to resolve with Ruiz, whom he himself signed, Mango's situation after years of losses when his son Jonathan was in charge. Now the situation is very different from that time. After the setback of the pandemic, Mango has not stopped breaking sales and profit records and is in an ambitious expansion phase focused on Europe and the United States.
Andic himself claimed that his company was currently going through its best moment. “Mango now has the best team in its history,” he exclaimed at the inauguration of Mango's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York in May 2022. Andic had fulfilled one of his dreams there, bringing the project of his life to the commercial heart of the American city. He also laid the cornerstone on which his growth plan for the coming years is based.
The company plans to invest 600 million euros until 2025 to open 500 stores in three years, which will add to the current 2,700 establishments in 115 markets. The goal: achieve a turnover of 4,000 million euros in three years.
Recently, Andic had also promoted the professionalization of Mango's structure with the reform of its board of directors. The board includes individuals such as Marc Puig, president and CEO of Puig.
The company that was created 40 years ago is currently experiencing its best financial moment and has plans for expansion
In parallel with the modernization of Mango, Andic had recently brought order to his holding company Punta Na. In 2022, he revamped its structure and established a board of directors that he led as the chief executive, including his three children: Jonathan, Judith, and Sarah. The year 2023 was also a record year for Punta Na, through which Andic generated 47.8 million in revenue and earned 9.6 million euros. Following his passing, both the shareholding of Mango and Punta Na will have to be reorganized.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak dreamed of and would be proud of,” highlighted the CEO.
