Isak Andic: Founder of fashion giant Mango dies in hiking accident aged 71
The billionaire founder of fashion giant Mango, Isak Andic, has died after a hiking accident in Spain, the company said.
Spanish media reported that the 71-year-old businessman slipped and fell from a cliff while hiking with his family in the mountains near Barcelona.
Catalonia’s regional police told ITV News' US partner CNN that they were notified on Saturday afternoon that a 71-year-old man had fallen down a ravine of more than 320 feet in the area of the Collbató caves of Salnitre.
Police units were deployed to the caves and were able to retrieve the body, the force said.
A police source close to the matter confirmed to CNN that the victim was Mr Andic. The incident is currently being investigated but it appears to have been an accident, the source said.
Andic served as Mango’s non-executive chairman, according to a statement signed by the company's CEO Toni Ruiz.
“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,” read the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reacted to Andic’s death, saying on X: “All my affection, and recognition for your great work and business vision, which has turned this Spanish brand into a world reference in fashion."
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Catalonia’s regional president, Salvador Illa, wrote on X that Andic had left “an indelible mark on the Catalan and global fashion sector,” and praised his work for contributing to “making Catalonia great and projecting it to the world.”
Andic had a net worth of 4.5 billion dollars, according to Forbes. He founded the Mango brand in Barcelona, Spain in 1984.
Mango is one of Europe’s leading fashion groups, according to the company’s website, with stores in over 120 markets. In 2023, the company’s sales surpassed 3.2 billion dollars.
The company currently operates 40 stores in the US and plans to open 20 more next year, according to Mango’s website.
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