Tributes have been paid to Isak Andic, the entrepreneurial and inspirational founder of Mango, following his untimely death in a hiking accident at the weekend.
Andic, aged 71, remained non-executive chairman of the fast-growing Spanish fashion retailer and had been “an example to us all”, according to Mango CEO Toni Ruiz.
Ruiz said the entire Mango family was in mourning following the unexpected death. “He dedicated his life to Mango, leaving an indelible mark thanks to his strategic vision, his inspiring leadership and his unwavering commitment to values that he himself imbued in our company. His legacy reflects the achievements of a business project marked by success, and also by his human quality, his proximity and the care and affection that he always had and at all times conveyed to the entire organisation,” Ruiz said.
“His departure leaves a huge void but all of us are, in some way, his legacy and the testimony of his achievements. It is up to us, and this is the best tribute we can make to Isak and which we will fulfill, to ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak aspired to and of which he would feel proud.”
Andic was one of Spain’s most successful businessmen and his wealth is said to have been worth around £3.5 billion at the time of his passing. He was born in Istanbul in 1953 and arrived in Barcelona with his Sephardic Jewish family in 1969.
His career began selling t-shirts and clogs with his brother Nahman and the first pair, along with fellow entrepreneur Enric Cusí, opened the first Mango store (named after the fruit following a trip Andic had taken to the Philippines) in Barcelona in 1984. Today the company is a global powerhouse and in the first six months of its current financial year posted record sales of £1.3 billion and boasts 2,743 stores, It creates collections for men, women, children and teens which are designed at its headquarters in Barcelona and recently enjoyed success with a high-profile collaboration with British designer Victoria Beckham.
The UK, in which Mango first arrived in 1999, is a particularly strong market for Mango and is the target of expansion for the brand. Its first international Mango Teen store was opened in London this year and it has been rapidly rolling out Mango stores in this market with 60 now in operation.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez paid tribute in a statement saying: “My condolences to the family of Isak Andic, the founder of Mango, after his tragic death in an accident,” adding that he “turned this Spanish firm into a world leader in fashion”.
The head of Catalonia’s regional government, Salvador Illa, hailed Andic as “a cmmitted businessman who, with his leadership, has contributed to making Catalonia great and projecting it to the world”.
