Ananas Anam Appoints Manel Echevarria as CEO to Drive Sustainable Fashion Revolution
Ananas Anam, a trailblazing company in sustainable textile solutions, has announced the appointment of Manel Echevarria as its new CEO. With a rich background in luxury and fashion, Echevarria is poised to lead the company into its next phase of growth, with a strong emphasis on the fashion, interior design, and automotive sectors.
Echevarria, previously the CEO of Lacoste Iberia from 2018 to 2020 and more recently the CEO of Excens Sports Group, brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having held key positions at prestigious brands such as Swarovski and MontBlanc.
From its state-of-the-art research and production facilities near Barcelona, Echevarria will guide Ananas Anam toward a sustainable future. Christian Kurtzke, President of Ananas Anam, expressed enthusiasm for this significant appointment, stating, «Manel Echevarria’s appointment as CEO signifies a pivotal milestone in our strategic journey toward the next phase of growth.»
Kurtzke further added, «Following our substantial investment in pioneering a portfolio of next-generation biodegradable, traceable, and sustainable materials and establishing a robust network of strategic partners, Manel’s leadership will be instrumental in driving growth and scaling our solutions in a globally competitive industry landscape.»
Echevarria articulated his vision, saying, «Advancing sustainability in the fashion industry, as well as in interior design and the automotive sector, has assumed paramount importance on the global stage. I am honored to lead the company during this transformative moment.»
Earlier this year, Ananas Anam successfully secured funding through a financing round led by the Haltra Group, a Luxembourg-based investment firm known for its commitment to sustainable initiatives. Prominent investors in the round included the French company Compagnie Fruitière, a leading European fruit producer, automotive technology provider Forvia, and the Japanese conglomerate Asahi Kasei Corp, renowned for its innovative materials and technologies.
Founded by Spanish entrepreneur Carmen Hinojosa, Ananas Anam has forged partnerships with renowned brands including Nike, Hugo Boss, H&M, Paul Smith, Ecoalf, and Carolina Herrera. Its flagship product, Piñatex, a sustainable leather alternative, is complemented by Piñayarn, a biodegradable, traceable, and sustainable thread. Both innovations harness the potential of pineapples, mirroring the success of Anam PALF, a premium textile showcased at Première Vision in Paris last July.
