Archena Leader Takes Helm of Croem

Miguel López Abad took over as president of CROEM on June 20, 2024, after the Confederation of Business Organizations of the Region of Murcia said he was proclaimed by acclamation at its 46th general assembly. CROEM said more than 400 business representatives attended the meeting, where López Abad succeeded José María Albarracín, who had led the regional employers’ group for 10 years. The organization identified López Abad as a native of La Algaida, in Archena, and said he had arrived with more than 100 endorsements from the regional business community. In his first remarks after assuming the post, CROEM said, he thanked member associations and companies for their support and pledged commitment to the role. ### Who is Miguel López Abad? CROEM said López Abad is president of Global París and had been serving as president of the Murcia chamber of commerce when he sought the employers’ confederation’s top job. The group said he was the only candidate once the nomination period closed on June 10, 2024. Murciaplaza and other regional outlets described him as an entrepreneur from the Archena district of La Algaida who built his business career in recycling and related services. (croem.es) Murcia.com, citing CROEM’s announcement, said López Abad co-founded Global París in 1992 and that the group includes Desguace París, E-Recycling and Loggo. CROEM said his election made him the sixth president in the confederation’s history. ### How did he reach the presidency? June 10, 2024 was the deadline that left López Abad as the sole contender for the post, CROEM said. (croem.es) The confederation then scheduled its electoral general assembly for June 20 with more than 400 businesspeople expected to attend. June 20, 2024 was the day the assembly formally elevated him by acclamation, according to CROEM and regional media reports. (murcia.com) La Opinión de Murcia reported that López Abad said he felt no “complex” about being identified as Albarracín’s chosen successor and instead said he was proud the outgoing president had backed him. ### What agenda did he set once in office? (croem.es) July 25, 2024 was the date of López Abad’s first meeting with CROEM’s board as president, when the organization said he presented the strategic lines for his term. CROEM said he wanted continuous, coordinated communication between the confederation, sector associations and member companies so that business demands could be taken to public administrations in a unified way. The group said that plan included creating working groups of CROEM staff and sector representatives to establish a calendar of actions and specific demands over the following four years. (croem.es) CROEM’s 2024 activity report, presented under López Abad’s presidency, said the confederation’s mission was to defend companies, small businesses and the self-employed as creators of wealth and jobs and to shape a more favorable environment for their activity. The same document said the organization aimed to diversify Murcia’s economy, strengthen sectors including agri-food and logistics, advance tourism and take an active role in a new regional industrial plan. (croem.es) ### Which business figures stood alongside him? CROEM said Antonio Garamendi of CEOE, Gerardo Cuerva of CEPYME, Lorenzo Amor of ATA and Murcia regional president Fernando López Miras attended the June 20 assembly. The presence of Spain’s top national employer representatives underscored the weight of the succession inside Murcia’s business community, according to the participant list published by CROEM. (croem.es) July 25, 2024 also brought approval of a new executive committee, CROEM said. The confederation named Ana Correa of COEC, Juan Jódar of CECLOR and Alfonso Hernández Zapata of FREMM as ex officio vice presidents, alongside a broader slate of board members and chamber representatives from Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca. (croem.es) ### What has happened since his appointment? April 1, 2026 brought a meeting at CROEM headquarters between López Abad, UGT Región de Murcia secretary general Paqui Sánchez and CCOO Región de Murcia secretary general Teresa Fuentes Rivera, the confederation said. CROEM said the participants reviewed labor conditions and pending collective bargaining agreements and agreed on the importance of reinforcing social dialogue to support business development and workers in the region. (croem.es) May 22, 2026 brought a profile in El Nuevo Digital Murcia focused on López Abad ahead of a new CROEM general assembly, according to the newspaper’s homepage listing. CROEM’s own materials say the confederation’s 2025 action plan centers on representing Murcia businesses before public administrations and pursuing the economic agenda set out under López Abad’s presidency. (elnuevodigitalmurcia.es) (croem.es)