Goodbye, Antonio

Since that day we had hoped for a miracle. However, as the distressing hours and days passed, he faded… Previously, last week, the death of his three colleagues was confirmed that same afternoon: Miguel Bordeos, President of SPB; Vicente Tarancón, CEO of Luanvi; and José Luis Marín, owner of Colegios Siglo XXI.

Antonio is no longer with us, but his legacy will live on. Born in Manzanares (Ciudad Real), he studied in Madrid and settled in the capital until he was given the task of creating an Arthur Andersen branch in Valencia from scratch. He did not hesitate to pack his suitcase, and with the help of Heloísa, he came to live next to the Mediterranean.

Valencia became his home. He defined himself as an “entrepreneur with a network.” I still remember how he said that he had two important work stages in two startups. The first, as Managing Partner of Arthur Andersen, the current Deloitte, where he led its growth in the area for 21 years. The second, at EDEM Escuela de Empresarios, where he was General Director from November 2005 to December 2019.

The beginnings of the EDEM Foundation in that first headquarters in the center of Valencia are unforgettable. I remember with great affection that time when we said that we were the “three musketeers”: Antonio, Manuel Palma, then president, and me as general secretary. Furthermore, we were lucky to have two wise men in the rearguard: the also much loved and missed Paco Pons, president of Importaco, and my father, Juan Roig, president of Mercadona.

At that time, we had a clear idea of ​​what we wanted, a lot of enthusiasm and desire to build a school that would be a benchmark in entrepreneurial and management education. His contribution was fundamental to creating the EDEM that we know today.

In parallel to this activity, Antonio has played a significant role in the fight against cancer by serving as a patron of the IVO Foundation.

Beyond having been a good professional, it is still difficult for me to use this verbal tense, Antonio was a great person. His human quality has left an indelible mark. The affection with which the team remembers him and the words of affection he gave us every time we met again are testimony to this.

But his main legacy is the mark he leaves through his loved ones. Antonio leaves a united family, who adored him.

Antonio, we have the consolation of knowing that you were happy until the last day, surrounded by friends. True friendship is one of life’s wonderful gifts. And you enjoyed it and you offered it.

We will always remember you. RIP.