A Massive Edition of Opendir Focuses on Business Transformation

The fourth edition of Opendir, the open forum for executives, was a resounding success. Held on Wednesday, May 28, at the ADDA in Alicante, it saw a full house in the auditorium. More than 1,200 executives and entrepreneurs attended the event to listen to twelve speakers on a day focused on business transformation.

The opening of Opendir 'Business Metamorphosis: Evolve to Revolutionise' was led by the Mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, who highlighted the "full house achieved in such a challenging venue as the ADDA." Barcala emphasised the role of executives, stating they are "the ones who make decisions and set the path forward," and assured that "the importance of individuals in decision-making remains crucial."

Following the mayor's speech, Eva Toledo, president of El Círculo, took the stage, announcing that in the coming days "we will already be preparing Opendir 2026." Toledo acknowledged that this year's theme is "complex, but the current situation justifies it," asserting that it's no longer enough to adapt; "we must rethink and undertake profound renewals, carrying out that metamorphosis with radical and swift change."

The President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, concluded the opening speeches, thanking all sponsors and insisting that "we should offer greater tax benefits to companies sponsoring events." Mazón described Opendir as a "first-rate talent gathering in Alicante, the Comunitat, and even in Spain."

The head of the Consell highlighted that the purpose of this event is "metamorphosis, never stopping," and stressed that "once again, the talent of Opendir continues to inspire."

Following this, the first lecture began, a dialogue on AI between Luis Javier Blas Agüeros, Director of Media at CaixaBank, and Marta Martínez, 'Industrial Partner CVC' at Capital Partners and former General Director of IBM Emea. Afterward, journalist Vicente Vallés took the stage. The presenter and director of Noticias 2 covered all current national and international topics, throwing some jabs at the current government.

After them, the round table "Metamorphosis: from change to transformation" took place, featuring Eva Martín-Caro, General Director of the children's footwear brand Pablosky; Kike Sarasola, founder and president of the hotel chain Room Mate Hotels; Luis Monserrate, CEO of the design appliance firm Create; and Rocío Abella, partner responsible for Deloitte, specialising in marketing, innovation, and business strategy.

Businessman Enrique Riquelme, Executive Chairman of Cox Energy, capped off the event with the Alicante talent segment, sharing his journey to founding a multinational. After the coffee break, scheduled between 12 and 12:45, consultant Xavier Marcet, President and Founder of Lead to Change, delivered the talk "Humanist Management: Strategy is People."

"Cosentino: a story of overcoming from the Spanish southeast" is the title of the dialogue that followed, featuring Pilar Martínez-Cosentino, CEO of Grupo Cosentino, and Sergio Pérez, General Director of Cajamar. The programme concluded with Gustavo Zerbino, a survivor of the 1972 Andes plane crash, discussing "Adversity as Opportunity."