On Tuesday 22 February, Ana Vallés, president of the Sorigué Group, received her award for Best Business Career in Catalonia at the Best Businesswomen Awards presented by Actualidad Económica and Telva Magazine, which this year recognise the best female managers and professionals in Catalonia.
 
Vallés was awarded for her work as the president of Sorigué. She took on the role in 2011, marking the first generational change in the company. Since then, “she has managed to position this group as one of the most recognised brands in a sector dominated by large multinationals”, according to the Actualidad Económica report published about the awards.
 
“We have transformed Sorigué into a conscious, modern, dynamic, diversified and committed group, which is responding to the current needs of our society, underpinned by our values: respect for people, respect for the environment, and building a more sustainable future”, said Vallés at the awards ceremony.
 
Another of the great achievements highlighted by the president of Sorigué is the growth of the workforce, which has increased from 1,894 employees in 2011 to over 4,800 in 2021. “I want to shine the spotlight on Sorigué’s people. Our people and talent are the company’s true capital that make our achievements possible”, she added.

 

In the words of the jury, “in a world dominated by men and male engineers and in a sector controlled by big companies based largely in Madrid, Ana Vallés has managed to place Sorigué on the Spanish map of construction, services, and engineering. As president of this family business, Vallés has managed to break the mould”.
 
The awards ceremony took place at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and was attended by Government Delegate, Maria Eugènia Gay Rosell; the director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Knowledge Transfer of the Generalitat, Lluís Juncà; the Councillor for Trade, Markets, Consumer Affairs and Internal Regime and Finance of Barcelona City Council, Montserrat Ballarin; and the Mayor of Girona, Marta Madrenas.
 
The ceremony also saw awards given to the businesswomen Carmina Ganyet, Corporate General Manager of Colonial, for Best Executive; Laura Urquizu, CEO of Red Points, for Best Innovative Businesswomen; and Carme Masferrer, President of Active Africa, with the trophy for Best Charity Initiative.

This year’s jury was made up of Antonio Garamendi, President of the CEOE; María Benjumea, President of Spain Startup; Luis Carvajal, partner of Egon Zehnder; Ampara Moraleda, member of the CaixaBank board of directors, Airbus, Vodafone, and Solvay; and Aurora Catà, President of Barcelona Global.