In the discreet world of transport and logistics at the Port of Las Palmas, the most consequential corporate moves are often made away from public scrutiny. This August, the management reshuffle was formalized with the removal of Somar Capital (Sergio Socas and Antonio Martín) from the presidency of the governing body. The company has appointed Juan José Andrés Alvez to take over as chairman.
Andrés Alvez’s arrival at the helm is not an ordinary move for a company with a regional profile. With more than 25 years of professional experience across Spain, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, the executive brings extensive experience gained at global infrastructure, airport management and supply-chain companies.
His professional background combines operational leadership at major multinationals with private-capital management. In the airport sector, Andrés Alvez was the senior executive responsible for the EMEAA and LATAM regions at Swissport International, the world’s largest air-cargo and ground-handling operator, overseeing operations in more than 25 countries. He previously held senior positions at infrastructure group Amey in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as at its Spanish parent company, Grupo Ferrovial.
The Private Equity stamp
Andrés Alvez’s appointment at Martín e Hijos takes on particular significance in light of his recent activity in the field of corporate acquisitions. Over the past four and a half years, the executive has co-led the acquisition and operational consolidation of six small and medium-sized logistics companies in Spain. This investment focus was cemented in March 2023, when he joined the Everwood T&L project as a partner, the transport and logistics division of Spanish private-equity fund Everwood Capital.
This combination of factors suggests that the restructuring of Martín e Hijos’s board is part of a broader strategy of professionalization and sector consolidation. The transition from a holding entity such as Somar Capital to a chairmanship led by a specialist in integrating logistics SMEs aligns the Canary Islands-based company with the consolidation trends affecting the sector nationwide.
Strategic prospects in the Atlantic
Although details of the immediate business plan remain confidential, the arrival of executives linked to private-equity funds and global infrastructure companies points to a period of expansion for Martín e Hijos. With the changes now implemented, the company is positioned to redefine its relative standing on the archipelago’s logistics map.
The article “Change at Maresa in the Port of Las Palmas: Socas and Antonio Martín Step Down as Presidents Following Everwood Acquisition” was first published on canarymaritime.com.
