Josep Maria Recasens, a native of Girona, will officially become the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indra this Wednesday, 17 June. His appointment, announced on 26 May, sees him replace José Vicente de los Mozos, who held the position for nearly three years.
Recasens' inauguration takes place just two weeks before the technology and defence company's general shareholders' meeting on 30 June. This meeting will ratify recent appointments, including Recasens as CEO and Ángel Simón as non-executive chairman, who was designated in early April to succeed Ángel Escribano.
Shareholders will need to approve both Recasens and Simón for their new roles, marking a new phase for the company. This period is particularly significant as Indra aims to become a leading force in the Spanish defence industry.
Recasens' Professional Background
Recasens, 50, has spent his career in the automotive sector. Before joining Indra, he was the global director of Strategy, Product and Programme Management for the Renault Group since November last year. He also served as general manager of Renault Group Iberia and CEO of Ampere, Renault Group's electric vehicle and software division.
He holds a degree in Industrial Organisation Engineering from the University of Girona, a Master's in Automotive Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), and an MBA from Esade. Recasens started his professional journey in 2002.
In June 2021, he joined Renault Group as Director of Strategy and Business Development, where he helped develop strategic alliances. By January 2023, he was named president and general manager of Renault Group Iberia. Recasens also chaired the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (Anfac), leading initiatives to drive the sector's transformation towards more sustainable and digitalised mobility. Anfac will also choose its new leader this week.
Defence and Automotive Convergence
Recasens shares a similar career path with his predecessor, José Vicente de los Mozos, who also came from Renault. This reflects a growing trend where defence companies explore convergences with the automotive sector. Some are even converting car factories to meet the increasing demand from the defence industry.
Recasens arrives at a critical time for the multinational. He will face the challenge of establishing Indra as a 'champion' in the Spanish defence industry. He will also need to assess the feasibility of reactivating a potential merger with Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), a family company owned by brothers Ángel and Javier Escribano.
