The Executive Chairman of Grupo Aldomer, José María Domínguez, took part as a speaker in the 2025 Andalucía Esade Alumni Annual Meeting, held on 26 June at the Radisson Collection Magdalena Plaza Hotel in Seville.
The event, organised by the Esade Alumni Western Andalusia Club, brought together leading professionals from the Andalusian business community to reflect on the present and future of family-owned companies.
This participation provided an opportunity to share our experience in strategic areas such as internationalisation, sustainability and innovation applied to the industrial sector.
A day focused on leadership in family-owned businesses
The 2025 edition focused on the role of family-owned businesses as a benchmark for leadership, highlighting values such as corporate culture, the legacy of hard work, intergenerational commitment and the ability to overcome challenges.
The event began with a welcome address by Javier Bécares, President of the Esade Alumni Western Andalusia Club. This was followed by a round-table discussion featuring:
- José María Domínguez, Executive Chairman of Grupo Aldomer.
- Daniel Tejera Martínez, Managing Director of Laboratorios Zotal.
- María Castro, Executive Director of Desengrasante El Milagrito.
- Anselmo Presencio, Director of Fundación Persán, as moderator.
During the discussion, participants shared experiences, challenges and lessons related to the management and evolution of Andalusian family-owned companies.
Alfran’s experience
José María Domínguez’s participation highlighted the journey of a Seville-based family business with more than 110 years of history.
From its origins in ceramic materials, the company has evolved into refractory solutions, industrial linings and a range of specialised services designed to protect the heart of industry.
Throughout this journey, the company has developed a significant international presence, with operations in markets including Spain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, Mexico, Peru, Nigeria and the United States, among others.
This experience served as the starting point for addressing three key areas for the growth of industrial companies: internationalisation, sustainability and innovation.
Internationalisation, sustainability and innovation
International expansion represents an opportunity to grow, diversify markets and bring a company’s solutions closer to customers in different countries. It also requires adaptability, local knowledge and a strong corporate culture capable of preserving the group’s values in each new market.
Alongside internationalisation, sustainability and innovation have become essential elements in addressing the current challenges facing industry.
The adoption of new solutions, continuous process improvement and the development of more efficient industrial models make it possible to move towards responsible growth that is better prepared for the future.
These areas form part of a business evolution built on experience, the commitment of its professionals and the ambition to provide an increasingly comprehensive and specialised service.
Sharing experiences to keep moving forward
The 2025 Andalucía Esade Alumni Annual Meeting provided a space to analyse the challenges facing family-owned businesses from different perspectives and to encourage open dialogue between speakers and attendees.
Following the round-table discussion and Q&A session, participants continued exchanging experiences during a networking cocktail held on the terrace of the Radisson Hotel in Seville.
We would like to thank Esade Alumni for the invitation and the opportunity to take part in this event, as well as all the professionals who contributed their experiences and insights.
We remain committed to shared knowledge, innovation and collaboration as key drivers for addressing the new challenges facing industry and continuing to build the future of our family business.