El Corte Inglés Confirms Javier Catena as CEO, Unveils Ambitious Investment Plan

El Corte Inglés reported a 22.8% increase in net profit to €628 million for the fiscal year 2025-2026, as the Spanish retail giant held its first shareholders meeting under new president Cristina Álvarez. The meeting, held on July 24, 2026, in Madrid, unanimously approved all board proposals, including the ratification of Javier Catena as CEO Source: lavanguardia.

Strategic Update

Álvarez announced an update to the company's strategic plan, to be presented in September, featuring a “more ambitious investment project” focused on business growth, logistics improvements, and new technological capabilities Source: infobae. The plan builds on a previous €3 billion investment commitment through 2030 Source: elespanol. Catena will be responsible for implementing the new strategy Source: elconfidencial.

Key Financial Results

The group's revenue reached €17,247 million, with like-for-like sales up 2% Source: elmundoes. EBITDA rose 4.7% to €1,266 million, while net financial debt decreased by €148 million to €1,648 million, the lowest debt level in nearly two decades at 1.3 times EBITDA Source: elespanol.

Strategic Focus

Álvarez emphasized three pillars: customer service, the physical store as a “differentiating value,” and product excellence. She described the physical store as “an environment of experiences where human interaction is generated, beyond a pure economic transaction” Source: lavanguardia. She also highlighted the growing importance of the online channel and the role of artificial intelligence in personalizing the shopping experience without replacing the company's essence . All sources agree on key facts and tone.