José María Méndez

José María Méndez has been appointed as the new CEO of CriteriaCaixa, the investment holding company of Fundación 'la Caixa'. This appointment, announced on March 24, 2026, fills the vacancy left by Ángel Simón's departure in April of the previous year. Méndez previously held the position of Director General and has been effectively managing operations since Simón's exit. His promotion follows a period of significant financial success for CriteriaCaixa, which reported a 120% increase in profits for 2025, reaching 2.325 billion euros. The appointment was approved by the board of directors after Méndez was incorporated into the Board of Directors of Fundación La Caixa. Isidro Fainé, president of Fundación 'la Caixa', spearheaded the reorganization that led to Méndez's appointment. This move signifies a new chapter for CriteriaCaixa under Méndez's leadership.