Andalucía Aerospace, the regional aerospace and defense cluster, held its General Assembly today at the headquarters of the Confederation of Andalusian Business Leaders (CEA), where a change in leadership took place. Fernando Alarcón de la Lastra, CEO of Canagrosa, a provider of highly specialized technical services in the aerospace industry, was unanimously elected as the new president of Andalucía Aerospace for the next four years. He is an industrial engineer from the University of Seville, and his involvement with the aerospace sector began in 2012 when he joined Canagrosa, assuming the role of CEO in 2024. His drive to implement a strategy of diversification, technological innovation, and the company’s international expansion earned him recognition in 2024 as “Aerospace Executive of the Year,” an annual award presented by Andalucía Aerospace since 2019.
He takes over from Antonio Gómez-Guillamón, co-founder and CEO of the multinational engineering firm Aertec Solutions, who has led Andalucía Aerospace since its founding. Under his two terms, the Andalusian aerospace and defense cluster has experienced a period of growth and consolidation, and today comprises more than a hundred companies. Gómez-Guillamón has played a key role at Andalucía Aerospace, expanding and strengthening its representation of the Andalusian aerospace sector and its role as a liaison with the public administration and other national and international organizations.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all companies and organizations that are part of Andalucía Aerospace for the trust they have placed in me over the years. It has been a privilege to lead this project from its inception and to work alongside the entire Andalusian aerospace ecosystem to build a strong, cohesive cluster with a voice of its own in the aerospace sector. This journey has been made possible thanks to the sector’s collective commitment, the collaboration between companies and government agencies, and the efforts of a team that has firmly believed in Andalusia’s potential. I am convinced that the cluster will continue to move forward successfully in this new phase, facing future challenges with ambition and unity,” said Antonio Gómez-Guillamón during his last speech to the members of Andalucía Aerospace.
For his part, Fernando Alarcón de la Lastra stated that he assumes this responsibility “with enthusiasm and commitment, following the legacy left to us by Antonio, who has been a true example of leadership. “We will work to ensure that Andalucía Aerospace remains a key player in the sector’s development, focusing on innovation, talent, and collaboration between companies and institutions; a cluster that fosters dialogue, promotes integration, serves its member companies, adds value, and facilitates concrete opportunities.”
New Andalucía Aerospace Board of Directors
In addition to electing Fernando Alarcón de la Lastra as the new president of Andalucía Aerospace, the General Assembly of Members also unanimously approved the composition of its new board of directors, which is as follows:
- Vice President: Juan Manuel Montaño, CEO of Grupo Sevilla Control
- Treasurer: Antonio Zafra, Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Aertec Solutions
- Secretary: José Avilés, Director of HR at Rhenus LTK Warehousing Solutions
- Board Member: Juan González Blanch, Executive Director of Airgrup
- Specialist SMEs Board Member: Paz Gutiérrez, CEO of Grabysur
- Tech Centres Board Member: Joaquín Rodríguez, CEO of CATEC
- Cádiz companies Board Member: Fernando Serrano, Business Development at Titania
- Aerostructures Board Member: Manuel González, CEO of Aeroestructures of Aciturri
- Space & UAS Board Member: David Núñez, Division Director of HI-Rel Semiconductor at Alter Technology TÜV NORD
- International Relations Board Member: Antonio Mena, VP ASP International at SATYS
- IA & Digitization Board Member: Jesús Estepa, Director of ATEXIS Spain
