Grupo SOS: Board of Directors appoints new Chairman and CEO

Madrid / ES. (gsos) The Board of Directors of Grupo SOS made Mariano Pérez Claver the chairman of Spain´s leading food company. Pérez Claver is a proprietary director on behalf of Corporación Financiera Caja de Madrid and replaces Vicente Sos. The board expressly thanked Vicente Sos for his handling of the transition the company has undergone over the last month, thereby enabling the changes in the company’s management bodies to be implemented in an orderly manner.

The board agreed to set up two new vice-chairmanships, to be held by representatives of the Andalusian savings banks. This appointment of Pérez Claver and the creation of the two new vice-chairmanships mark a new chapter in the company´s history, notable for the shareholders’ firm commitment to manage the company at close quarters.

The board of directors of Grupo SOS also appointed José Muriel Jiménez and Jaime Pereña Brand as board members by co-option. Unicaja appointed Manuel Azuaga Moreno as its representative on the board.

Furthermore, the board decided, as evidence of its 100 percent commitment to transparency, to make changes in the Audit Committee and the Committee of Appointments and Remuneration. The Audit Committee will be chaired by Manuel Azuaga (Unicaja) and will have as its members Jaime Pereña Cañadilla (Caja Sur) and Lucas Torán (independent).

The Committee of Appointments and Remuneraton will be chaired by Juan Salido (Caja Sol) and its standing members will be Ángel Córdoba (on behalf of Caja Madrid), Javier Merino (Caja General de Granada) and Ildefonso Ortega (independent).

Board appoints new Chief Executive Officer

Some days ago José Manuel Muriel (56) was appointed Managing Director of the board and chief executive of Grupo SOS. A qualified industrial engineer, he began his career with Santana Motor, a company of which he is currently the chairman. José Manuel Muriel, with wide experience and acknowledged prestige in business, finance and the public sector, has worked among others for General Motors, the Coin and Stamp Factory of Spain (in example the national mint), Leche Pascual, Prensa Española and Iluminación Lledó.

The one new board member, Jaime Pereña Brand, 65 years of age, is chairman and managing director of TEA Ediciones. He is a graduate of ICADE, holds a diploma in industrial psychology and is consultant to the European Community.