Mango founder Isak Andic dies in mountain accident

Businessman Isak Andic, founder of Mango, died on Saturday in an accident during an excursion in Collbató, Baix Llobregat, around 45km outside Barcelona.

The emergency services received a call at 12:39 pm that a person had fallen from a great height down a ravine in the Coves de Salnitre.

Upon arrival, they found the body of a 71-year-old man who was rescued by the mountain unit of the Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police.

The body was in a hard-to-reach area.

Citizen security patrols, a police helicopter, Catalan firefighters and units from the Medical Emergency System (SEM) were also deployed.

President: Andic helped make Catalonia great

Catalan President Salvador Illa, said he was "devastated" by Andik’s death.

"He leaves an indelible mark on the Catalan and global fashion industry," he said, adding that he had "helped make Catalonia great and project it to the world."

"My condolences, and those of the entire Government, to his family, friends, and the Mango team," he concluded in a post on X.

Isak Andic

Born in Istanbul (Turkey) in 1953, Andic emigrated with his family to Barcelona during his youth.

He founded Mango in 1984, a company that would become one of the most recognized fashion brands worldwide, with a presence in over 100 countries and hundreds of stores around the globe.

The success of the company made him the wealthiest Catalan, with a fortune of €2.7 billion in 2023.

He received numerous awards, such as the Creu de Sant Jordi, the Gold Medal for Merit in Labour, the National Fashion Award, and the Medal of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.

He was currently serving as the non-executive president of Mango.

The company's CEO, Toni Ruiz, issued a statement mourning Andic's death and praising him as an "example for all."

"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," said Ruiz, who emphasized "his human quality, his proximity and the care and affection that he always had and at all times conveyed to the entire organization."

"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," he concluded.