A final with nine awards
Mercedes Perea reached the national final as the Central Region winner. The ceremony, held yesterday, March 20, at the Real Fábrica de Tapices in Madrid, brought together the winners from every region of Spain. The awards were presented by Carlos Cuerpo, Spain’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, and Federico Linares, Chairman of EY Spain. The evening had an opera theme, with performances by young artists from the Teatro Real’s Crescendo program.
These are the winners of the 28th edition:
- Entrepreneur Of The Year and Diversification Award: Jorge Costa, CEO of Grupo Costa.
- Innovation Award: Mercedes Perea, CEO of APD.
- Sustainability: Elisabet Alier, President of Consejo de Alier.
- Family Business Legacy: Gerardo Cañellas, CEO of Perfume’s Club and Engel.
- Internationalization: Javier Roquero, co-founder of Salto and CEO of Salto Systems from 2000 to 2024.
- Social Entrepreneur: Ángel Félix Medina, President of SPAR Gran Canaria.
- Talent Management: the Grimalt Monfort family, who lead ALE-HOP.
- Growth: Dámaso Quintana, President of Grupo Cunext.
- Business Career: Enrique García Chillón, Chairman and CEO of Grupo Profand.
Innovation at the heart of APD
For us, this award recognizes the effort and dedication we put into every project. At APD we design and manufacture our own systems, both software and hardware, to automate critical processes. In healthcare, the Athos™ family connects the entire medication management cycle so that every dose reaches the patient safely.
We want to thank EY and all the sponsors for an initiative that recognizes business talent, and congratulate the other winners and finalists.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 award in Spain?
Jorge Costa, CEO of Grupo Costa. He received it at the national final on March 20, 2025, where Mercedes Perea, CEO of APD, received the Innovation Award.
Where was the final held?
At the Real Fábrica de Tapices in Madrid, on March 20, 2025.
What other EY awards has Mercedes Perea received?
In November 2024 she won the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award for Central Spain, which qualified her for this final.
Source: EY press release (in Spanish), March 20, 2025.
