El Corte Inglés shareholders ratify Javier Catena as CEO and preview ambitious strategic plan
Shareholders of Spain's largest department store group unanimously approved Javier Catena as CEO on Friday, while president Cristina Álvarez outlined a more ambitious investment strategy to be presented in September.
CEO ratification and meeting
El Corte Inglés, Spain's largest department store group, held its annual shareholders' meeting in Madrid on Friday, 24 July 2026. The assembly unanimously approved all board proposals, including the ratification of Javier Catena as the new CEO. Catena will be responsible for implementing the group's Strategic Plan. The meeting was the first chaired by Cristina Álvarez since she became president.
Strategic plan preview
Álvarez used her address to preview the updated Strategic Plan, which will be formally presented to the board in September. She described a "more ambitious investment project" focused on three areas: business growth, logistics improvement, and the adoption of new technological capabilities. The plan's strategic pillars are customer service, the physical store as a differential value, and product excellence.
Physical store as experience
Álvarez argued that the physical store remains a key asset, evolving into an experience-driven environment where human interaction builds brand beyond transactions.
The physical store is, today more than ever, an environment of experiences where human interaction is generated, where we have the opportunity to build a brand, beyond a pure economic transaction.
She also stressed that the customer is the company's reason for being, and the obligation is to make each one feel unique, heard, and well cared for.
The customer is our reason for being and our obligation is that each customer feels unique, heard and very well cared for.
Digital and logistics investments
Online channels are gaining weight, Álvarez said, with the website and app becoming entry points for many customers. She called for continued improvement of digital experience and personalisation, describing them as major growth drivers.
Our website and our app have become the gateway for many customers. We must continue to promote them, improving the digital experience and personalisation, because they are one of our great drivers of growth and customer acquisition.
Logistics investments will aim to "grow and provide a better service" to both stores and customers.
Financial backdrop
The meeting followed the close of the 2025-2026 fiscal year, during which El Corte Inglés achieved double-digit increases in 2025 and reduced its debt to the lowest level in two decades. All resolutions, including the management report, annual accounts, non-financial and sustainability report, and the application of results, were approved unanimously.
