Fluidra CEO, Eloi Planes, at Esade Matins: “Being four founding families has always been an advantage”
“Being four founding families has always been an advantage. It’s enabled us to create a robust corporate structure and, although our governance has evolved, it’s always had a robust, well-structured base”, explained Eloi Planes, Fluidra CEO at the latest Esade Matins.
During his speech, Planes reviewed some of the company’s highpoints, such as its IPO in 2007, pulling through the ensuing financial crisis, and the merger with the American company Zodiac in 2016. “It’s at these decisive moments that the families’ commitment can be seen. We’ve been able to decide what we want to be in each new stage of the company. For me, Fluidra is like a Netflix series with significant developments at the beginning and the end,” he said.
Future trends
Looking ahead to 2035, the CEO underlined the robustness of the pool sector: “It’s a structurally sound, growth market. Pools continue to increase in number around the globe, with 4-5% more new pools being built each year. These figures provide a forecast.” He also pinpointed two major trends that are reshaping the industry: sustainability and energy efficiency.
“Fluidra is the sustainability concept leader in this sector, but it’s necessary to develop regulations able to drive this transformation. We must pursue the development of water- and energy-saving technologies,” said Planes. He also pointed out that “the digitalization of pools is redefining this sector, because smart, efficient pools enable us to deliver new services and create business opportunities."
As regards the expansion of Fluidra, Planes emphasized that market penetration is the key to growth: “We are present in 47 countries that account for 96% of the world’s pools. Although we span much of the market, growth is focused on increasing our share in each region. In markets like central Europe, where summers are longer, we envisage great potential in the medium and long term.”
During the session, Planes also paid tribute to the legacy of his father, Joan Planes, the founder and honorary president of Fluidra, who recently passed away. “His legacy is important, but what I’m most proud of is how it has been conveyed to the family and the fact that the company is able to continue forging ahead on its own,” he concluded.
Esade Matins are meetings in which corporate and institutional leaders share their challenges, experience and knowledge. On this occasion, Eloi Planes was joined by Daniel Sánchez, president of Esade Alumni, and Luis Vives, professor of Strategy and General Management, and director of Corporate Relations & Engagement at Esade.
