The new non-executive chairman of Indra, Ángel Simón, has assumed the leadership of the company with the aim of strengthening its position in the defense sector and giving a new direction to the technology company.
Simón, who previously was CEO of CriteriaCaixa, takes the reins of Indra at a key moment, when the listed company is going through a management crisis and a political pressure to consolidate itself as a leader in the European defense sector. In his first intervention, Simón has assured that one of his main priorities will be to strengthen Indra's role in the defense industry through mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances.
Challenges in management
Despite having the backing of the SEPI and other key shareholders, Simón faces great challenges, among which stand out the merger with EM&E.
Simón, a engineer with a long career, faces without doubts due to his ability to tackle large corporate operations this new experience in defense. Simón has successfully led in other sectors such as infrastructures and public services. It is expected that his political experience and his closeness with the government of Pedro Sánchez facilitate the relationship with governmental authorities, in particular with the Ministry of Defense, which supports the modernization of the sector.
The merger with EM&E remains a crucial topic, as this company has an impressive growth in recent years, standing out in the development of advanced technology for the military sector. EM&E closed with a 38% growth in its revenues and an EBITDA of 195 million, positioning itself as one of the leaders in defense in Southern Europe.
Future strategy
Simón has made it clear that Indra must expand its influence in defense programs at a global level, with more than 3,000 million euros invested in R&D&i until 2030. Furthermore, the aim is to improve the competitiveness of the company in a market dominated by international competitors, which could include more mergers and acquisitions.