Barcelona, Spain – Eloi Planes, the current president of Fluidra, is poised to become the next president of the Institute of Family Business (IEF), according to reports from the Spanish news outlet ARA. The IEF’s board of directors is expected to formally propose Planes’s candidacy at an assembly this Wednesday, with a final decision to be made by the IEF’s members in May.
The potential appointment marks a significant moment for the IEF, as Planes would succeed Ignacio Rivera, president of Corporación Hijos de Rivera, whose term concludes in 2026. The IEF typically confirms its board’s candidate selection unanimously, suggesting a smooth transition is anticipated for Planes to become the institution’s seventeenth president.
Planes’s selection isn’t a surprise within Spanish business circles. He currently serves as a member of the IEF’s board and has long been considered a potential successor to Rivera. Rivera assumed the presidency in May 2024, taking over from Andrés Sendagorta, president of Sener. The IEF’s statutes stipulate two-year presidential terms with no possibility of extension, a practice that sees outgoing presidents join the board as members.
A Catalan Business Leader
Eloi Planes, born in Barcelona in 1969, brings a wealth of experience to the potential role. He holds a degree in industrial engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and an MBA from EADA Business School. He began his career at the family company in 1994, rising through the ranks to become CEO in 2006, coinciding with the company’s rebranding as Fluidra. He then spearheaded Fluidra’s initial public offering in 2007.
Since 2016, Planes has served as the executive president of Fluidra. A pivotal moment in his leadership came in 2017 with the announcement of a merger with the American company Zodiac, a move that propelled Fluidra to a leading position in the global pool industry. This success led to Fluidra’s inclusion in the Ibex-35, Spain’s benchmark stock market index, in 2021. Today, Fluidra is a global giant, employing over 6,500 people worldwide, generating more than 2.1 billion euros in annual revenue, with subsidiaries in 47 countries and 36 production centers.
Planes’s potential leadership of the IEF continues a tradition of prominent business figures at the helm of the organization. Previous presidents include Leopoldo Rodés (Havas), Mariano Puig (Puig), José María Serra (Catalana Occident), Rafael del Pino (Ferrovial), José Manuel Lara (Planeta), Alfonso Solans (Pikolin), Juan Roig (Mercadona), Simón Pedro Barceló (Grup Barceló), Isak Andic (Mango), José Manuel Entrecanales (Acciona), Javier Moll (Prensa Ibérica), Ignacio Osborne (Osborne), Francisco J. Riberas (Gestamp), Marc Puig (Puig), Andrés Sendagorta (Sener) and Ignacio Rivera (Corporación Hijos de Rivera).
Founded in 1992, the IEF is a non-profit organization representing leading Spanish companies. Its members collectively represent approximately 17.5% of Spain’s GDP, rising to 27.5% when including associated territorial enterprise family associations encompassing around 1,100 companies. Membership is exclusive to presidents, CEOs, or board members of family-owned businesses.
The IEF plays a crucial role in advocating for the interests of family-owned businesses in Spain, a significant component of the nation’s economic landscape. Planes’s appointment, if confirmed, would position him as a key voice in shaping policies and initiatives that support these businesses.
As the assembly approaches, the Spanish business community awaits the formal confirmation of Eloi Planes as the next president of the Institute of Family Business. His experience leading a major international company, coupled with his existing involvement with the IEF, suggests he is well-prepared to guide the organization through its next chapter. The IEF’s members will convene in Barcelona in May to finalize the decision, a meeting that will be closely watched by industry observers.
