In a notable shift within Alicante’s business landscape, Miguel Quintanilla has stepped away from his long-standing roles as a representative of the Valencian Community Business Confederation (CEV) on both the Alicante Chamber of Commerce plenary and its board. His successor is Marián Cano, who already serves as vice-president of the Valencian employers’ association, taking on the post following a recommendation from chamber president Carlos Baño and in line with an informal arrangement with the CEV. The transition reportedly occurred without a prior, comprehensive consultation with all parties, signaling a moment of decisive change inside the chamber and its governing circles.
People familiar with the situation suggest Quintanilla’s exit is driven by business considerations, with letters outlining the decision sent to the heads of the Chamber and the CEV. Within business circles, the move has been described as discreet yet dignified, and observers note a growing misalignment that has emerged in recent months. The friction appears to revolve around the process by which certain decisions were made within the chamber, at times without the full agreement of its members and leadership. This sense of governance tension is referenced in discussions about how the chamber balances executive action with collective consent, a topic frequently debated among regional business actors. [Citation: Valencian business press, attributed observers]
The manner of the transition diverged from established practice. An informal understanding had long placed the CEV in a position to nominate the two new members, even though this protocol was never codified in the chamber’s statutes. On this occasion, the chamber’s president moved to nominate Marián Cano, who also chairs the Valencian Footwear Entrepreneurs Association (Avecal), without prior notice to the chamber’s top leadership. The decision stands as a clear example of governance decisions being made at the highest levels, with limited prior consultation, raising questions about how representative the process is of the broader business community’s voice. [Attribution: regional governance analysis, industry sources]
Questions have arisen about who will justify and defend the interests of Alicante’s business sector as the region navigates investment and development reflected in the General Government Budgets for the Valencian Community. Within the core business unit and its networks, there is quiet recognition that the pace of decision-making has sometimes lagged behind the appetite for bold investment and proactive development. At the same time, the chamber chose to present a public-facing display outside its traditional channels, taking on the initiative at personal risk and expense to demonstrate a commitment to regional representation beyond standard institutional confines. This move underscores a broader expectation that local business bodies actively engage with regional stakeholders, even when doing so relies on personal effort rather than purely formal channels. [Commentary: regional economic analysis]
Quintanilla’s past leadership included chairing sessions as the head of the chamber, with his tenure aligning with the spring 2019 entry into the Assembly committee as a member of the parliamentary committee. This period followed a phase of tension that had fueled a broader disagreement between the CEV and the Uepal organization, illustrating how inter-member relations influence the chamber’s strategic direction. Looking back, the transition mirrors wider dynamics at play among regional business groups as they navigate cooperation, competition, and governance within the Alicante ecosystem, where governance decisions, investor sentiment, and public accountability all intersect. [Contextual reference: regional business governance]
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