Isak Andic, the founder of Spanish clothing retail chain Mango, one of Europe’s largest fashion groups with nearly 2,800 stores worldwide, died in an accident on Saturday. TASR informs about it according to the AFP news agency. Although the company did not provide further details, Spanish media reported that A 71-year-old man died after falling while hiking with several members of his family near Barcelona.
“It is with deep regret that we announce the unexpected passing of Isak Andic, our non-executive chairman and founder of Mango,” Toni Ruíz, CEO of the Barcelona-based company, said in a statement. “Isak was an example for all of us. He dedicated his life to Mango and left an indelible mark thanks to his strategic vision, inspirational leadership and unwavering commitment to the values he himself instilled in the company,” added Ruíz.
Isak Andic in an archive picture from May 17, 2011.
Source:
TASR/AP
Andic was born in 1953 in Istanbul, and at the age of 14 he moved with his family to Barcelona – to the rich northeastern region of Catalonia. He opened his first store on Passeig de Grácia in the center of Barcelona. Spain had just emerged from a decade-long dictatorship that ended with the death of Francisco Franco in 1975, and customers wanted more modern clothing.
Andic opened dozens of other stores in Spain and abroad, first in neighboring Portugal and France, all under the Mango name. The company has consolidated its position as one of the leading international fashion groups, with a significant presence in more than 120 markets and employing 15,500 employees worldwide, according to its website.
