Toni Ruiz, CEO of Mango, has received the 2024 Business Leader of the Year award from the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce in recognition of “his leadership and foresight at the helm of the company.” Specifically, the Board of Directors of the institution recognized Ruiz for “his extensive professional career, his strong commitment to the U.S. market, and his significant contributions that have consolidated the company’s status as a major worldwide fashion player, with an exponentially growing presence and recognition in the United States.”
According to the institution, “Mr. Ruiz’s visionary leadership, dedication and expertise have driven remarkable advancements in Mango’s revenue, brand recognition, and global reach. His commitment to digitalization and eco-design has positioned Mango as a pioneer in sustainable practices within the fashion industry. From leading the brand’s U.S. expansion to fostering innovation, Mr. Ruiz’s tireless efforts ensure the company’s continued success and growth.”
The award ceremony took place in New York during the 2024 annual Gala of the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce. The event held at Cipriani, one of the best New York City landmark venues, was attended by more than 200 representatives of politics, media, business and finance from both countries. Some participants included the Ambassador of Spain to the United States, Angeles Moreno; the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy & the Environment of the U.S. Department of State, Jose Fernandez; the Consul General of Spain in New York, Marta de Blas; and the Chairman of the Chamber, Alan Solomont, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain.
During his speech, Toni Ruiz expressed his gratitude for the award and emphasized the key role of Mango’s employees in this achievement. “This award is not just for me, but for the entire Mango team, who have worked tirelessly to make this iconic brand what it is today, a key player in the fashion industry at an international level. Thank you to those who are with me today and especially to Shane Grenley for his amazing job as our country manager in the USA.”
“Mango is the story of the vision of Isak Andic, our founder and non-executive chairman. A vision to create a global brand that would bring fashion to the world and that started with the opening of the first Mango store at Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona in 1984,” Ruiz highlighted. “His entrepreneurial mindset, international vision and open-minded spirit inspired his vision. These principles, deeply connected to our values, have been our guiding light throughout Mango’s history helping us achieve record milestones. We surpassed 3.1 billion euros in sales for the first time in our history last year, entering a new era of growth. We are at the best moment in our history,” he added.
Contribution to the US
The Business Leader of the Year award rewards business leaders who have made a significant contribution to the economic growth of Spain or the United States and to the improvement of business relations between both countries.
“When we opened our flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York in May 2022, we were not just reinforcing our presence in the United States market. We were making a promise: a long-term commitment to bringing the best of Mango to a global stage” Toni Ruiz stated during the gala.
The company has led one of the fastest brick and mortar expansion plan in the US since it was initiated by opening a flagship store in New York’s Fifth Avenue in May 2022. “Developing the U.S. market is a great challenge. It is not easy to understand its idiosyncrasies, and it is a market with demanding customers who push us to bring out our best version. The response has been extraordinary, with 42 points of sale. Few companies open a new store every working day. And specifically in the US, a new store per month. This is the case of Mango,” Ruiz added.
In 2025, the company will speed up its expansion plan by opening over 20 new stores, which represents launching two new stores per month in the country. “Our ambition is to reach 65 physical stores by the end of 2025,” Toni Ruiz said. Specifically, Mango plans to open them in the Sun Belt and the northeast regions of the country. The most notable openings include the arrival in Washington, Illinois and Nevada with stores in Bellevue Square, the shopping center par excellence of the Pacific Northwest, Michigan Ave, one of the main commercial avenues in Chicago, and Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping center. Mango also plans to open stores for the first time in Connecticut, Arizona, Ohio, Oregon and Louisiana. In addition, the company will increase its presence in California, with focus on the San Francisco area, and in Texas with a store in Houston Galleria.
Along with its expansion plan, the company has stood out for its contribution to the US economy. Between 2024 and 2026, Mango will invest over $100 million dollars in the U.S to open these new stores, apart from its relevant role in the job creation. Over the last few years, the company led by Toni Ruiz has created more than 600 new jobs in the country, increasing from 30 employees in 2020 to more than 640 today. And its intention is to double its headcount and exceed 1,200 employees by 2025.
Mango has been present in the United States since 2006. The company’s expansion plan launched in 2022 with the opening of its flagship store located at 711 Fifth Avenue in New York, one of the most exclusive shopping streets in the world.
During the first phase of the expansion plan, Mango extended its presence in New York, both in Manhattan and in the surrounding areas. Following New York, the company focused on increasing its presence in the state of Florida, with the opening of two stores in Miami and one in Orlando. The company also sealed an agreement with Parsons School of Design in New York, one of the world’s leading fashion schools, to support the new generation of global leaders in the field of design and retail through training scholarships.
In 2023, Mango expanded in the west coast and in the south, opening stores in California, Texas, and Georgia. In 2024, Mango arrived in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Washington D.C. with the notable openings in King of Prussia, the largest shopping center in Pennsylvania, Natick Mall in Boston, Tysons Corner, Virginia’s premier shopping destination, and 950 F Street, in the heart of Washington DC. In addition, it has expanded its presence in California and New York with its arrival in San Diego and new stores in New York, such as Hudson Yards.
As part of its expansion plan in the United States, Mango has recently launched its second off-site logistics center in the country, outside of Angeles. With a surface area of 12,000 m² and a volume of 20,000 daily operations, the center employs a hundred people and is expected to supply states on the west coast and in the center of the country. These facilities are in addition to the offshore logistics center that Mango opened in 2022 in Pennsylvania and which serves the company’s online business in most of the country. The east coast center has a surface area of 30,000 m², reaches 50,000 daily operations and employs 300 people.
The expansion in the United States is part of the company’s 4E 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, which aims to showcase Mango’s differential value proposition, with a strong push for expansion and improved sales in the existing store park and in its online channel. The United States is currently one of Mango’s five main markets and the company aims for the country to be in the top three ranking in terms of turnover by the end of 2026.
