2 minutes
The former CEO of Lacoste Iberia moves Piñatex' parent company to spearhead its development
Ananas Anam, a company specializing in environmentally low-impact textile solutions utilizing materials such as Piñatex and Piñayarn, has named Manel Echevarria as its new CEO. With extensive experience in the luxury and fashion sector, Echevarria will lead the company into its new growth phase, with a primary focus on the fashion, interior design, and automotive sectors.
Echevarria previously served as the CEO of Lacoste Iberia from 2018 to 2020 and, started in the autumn of 2020 as the CEO of Excens Sports Group, which specializes in the sale and distribution of sporting goods. Prior to this, he held positions at renowned companies such as Swarovski and MontBlanc.
The executive will oversee the company from its research and production facilities located near Barcelona. "The appointment of Manel Echevarria as CEO marks another significant milestone in our preparations for the next phase of growth," stated Christian Kurtzke, president of Ananas Anam.
"After our investment in developing a powerful portfolio of biodegradable, traceable, and sustainable materials of the next generation, and establishing a network of strategic partners, Manel will provide the leadership needed to drive growth and scale this solution in a challenging global industry and market environment," he added.
"Promoting sustainability transformation in the fashion industry, as well as in interior design and automotive sectors, has become a key priority on the agendas of brands and manufacturers worldwide. I am proud to have the opportunity to lead the company at this pivotal moment," said Echevarria.
Earlier this year, Ananas Anam announced the completion of a financing round led by the Haltra Group, an investment firm based in Luxembourg with ties to sustainable projects. The round also included investors such as the French company Compagnie Fruitière (one of Europe's major fruit producers in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific), automotive technology provider Forvia, and the Japanese conglomerate Asahi Kasei Corp, specializing in innovative materials and technologies.
Founded by Spanish entrepreneur Carmen Hinojosa, Ananas Anam has collaborated with renowned brands including Nike, Hugo Boss, H&M, Paul Smith, Ecoalf, and Carolina Herrera, among others. Its flagship product, Piñatex, resembles leather and is complemented by Piñayarn, a biodegradable, traceable, and sustainable thread. Both innovations are derived from pineapples, similar to Anam PALF, a premium textile showcased at Première Vision in Paris last July.
Copyright © 2024 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
