In a 2021 full of management changes and brand renewals, the Cluster joined the wave by announcing a strong internal restructuring of positions. After presiding over the company for 17 years, Paul Island will give up his position to Martha Ortegawho will assume the presidency on April 1, 2022. Secondly, Oscar Garcia Maceiras -until now Secretary General and of the Council- will become CEO of Inditex, and Carlos Crespowho held that position, will now direct the operations area, sustainable and digital transformation (which includes the operation of the Group’s eCommerce).
«The board of directors thanks Pablo Isla for his leadership and vision during the 17 years he has led the company, first as vice president and CEO since 2005 and, from 2011, as president. During this period, Inditex has become the leading company in its sector worldwide and a benchmark in terms of sustainability and digital transformation“, announces the company officer.
Carlos Crespo and Javier García Torralbo, the two visible faces of the Group’s eCommerce
Among these movements, the Carlos Crespo Gonzalezwho went from being CEO -in other words, number two at Inditex- to directing the area of operations, sustainable and digital transformation, a lower weight position within the company, although it is also a key pillar for the operation of the Cluster.
Crespo, originally from Coruña, joined Inditex in 2001 -at the age of 30- performing various responsibilities in the financial area. Four years later he became director of internal audit, a position he held until 2018. For a year he held the position of general director of operations and in the 2019 he was appointed as CEOa title that it kept until today and that now it will be occupied by Óscar García Maceiras.
Those who know him affirm that he is someone discreet, intelligent and highly skilled in business, who was able to win the trust of Amancio Ortega and his name reached several countries around the globe where the Group operates. His good performance led him to become the right hand of Pablo Isla and in a reference name of the national and international business sector.
With this change, his tasks will take a turn focusing his responsibility on the operational area, in a key moment for the company, marked by the international logistical tensions and the accelerated transformation of Inditex’s business model, increasingly oriented towards omnichannel and the commitment to eCommerce. According to the Group’s latest half-year results, presented in September, the digital channel grows 36% compared to 2020 and 137% compared to 2019. The goal is that exceed 25% of Inditex’s revenues at the end of 2021.
In this field you will work more closely with Javier Garcia Torralbowho remains at the forefront of Zara’s eCommercethe flagship brand of the textile giant.
Marta Ortega, new president of Inditex
On the other side of the coin, is the future president Marta Ortega Perezwho has developed his activity in different areas of the Group during the last 15 years and, in particular, has directed the reinforcement of the brand image and fashion proposal of Zara, area that will continue to monitor. Under his leadership, campaigns have materialized with the most renowned creatives in the sector such as Steven Meisel, Fabien Baron, Karl Templer or Luca Guadagnino, as well as the launch of new premium collections, including Zara SRPLS and Charlotte Gainsbourg by Zara.
«I have lived this company since my childhood and I have learned from all the great professionals with whom I have worked during the last 15 years. I have always said that I would dedicate my life to developing the legacy of my parents, looking to the future but learning from the past and at the service of the Company, our shareholders and our clients, in the place where I am most needed. I feel deeply honored and committed by the trust that has been placed in me and enormously excited about the future that we are all going to undertake together”, declared Ortega before the appointment.
A group that has evolved along with eCommerce
in eCommerce starts at 2007, Amancio Ortega’s group makes its debut in electronic commerce with , one of the youngest chains, specialized in textiles, home and decoration. It launched its online sales platform in 13 European markets and for three years it served as a test for all subsequent openings planned by the company.
Five years later, Pablo Isla assumed the presidency of the company and the commitment to eCommerce became definitive. From this moment on, the international expansion of its platforms was progressive and advanced at the same rate as offline, with new establishments in classic and emerging markets, such as USA Y Japan.
In the 2012 zara.cn landed in China, a strategic decision with the aim of expanding on the Asian continent. That same year, and Massimo Dutti presented their online platforms in USA Y Oysho became the company’s first chain to reach an agreement with the British one of the largest European Internet distributors, to sell part of its collection online in the .
A year later, the group opened online stores in Canada and RussiaY in 2014 he joined to open a new sales channel and strengthen its presence in China. Also strengthened its presence in Mexico and South Koreawith the opening of Zara’s electronic platform in the Asian country and Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Oysho and Zara Home in Mexico.
In the 2017, the Galician company integrated into its online map Y electronic commerce becomes the “strategic axis” of the company. The expansion continued by leaps and bounds: “We want to make our fashion product available to all customers anywhere in the world, even in those markets where there is no physical store. All Inditex brands will be available for purchase through the internet worldwide in 2020”, he declared. Pablo Isla in 2019, announcing one of the most ambitious proposals of eCommerce worldwide: breaking down the barriers of international logistics and deliver your online orders anywhere on the planet.
The pandemic boosts sales in digital channels
During the last 2 years, the impact of COVID was beneficial for the growth of the online business of the company, that, even with 5% of the physical stores closed and with capacity and time restrictions in 88% of the Group’s stores, Inditex’s online sales continued to grow at a high rate, reaching 75% year-on-year during the first nine months of the year and 76% during the third quarter of 2020.
unstoppably, Inditex outperformed itself this 2021, increasing sales by almost 50% compared to the first quarter of 2020. The online channel explains much of the successas grew 67% in the first quarter of the year (which Inditex counts from February to April), an even higher percentage than it experienced in the same period of 2020, when the confinement triggered the demand for this service by 50%.
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