How does a 22-year-old become the head of Adecco Spain for a month? The answer lies in the annual CEO for a Month initiative, a program that spots fresh talent from across markets and puts them at the helm for a brief, immersive period. In this year’s edition, Mikel Mendibe from Biscay stepped into the role, joining the ranks of ambitious young leaders chosen through a competitive process across participating countries.
Adecco Group, a global leader in human resources, organized the campaign with a clear goal: shine a spotlight on young people and give them a real chance to steer the company for a limited time. The concept is simple but impactful. A young professional leads the organization for a month, shadowing the current chief executive and guiding strategic decisions in collaboration with senior leadership. This approach creates a vivid, hands-on experience that mirrors the responsibilities of top-tier leadership in modern workplaces, including the kind of cross-regional coordination that Canadian and American teams value.
Young Leadership at Adecco
As a result of the program, Mikel Mendibe was named CEO of Adecco Spain for a month. During this tenure, he will work closely with Iker Barricat, the current Spain chief, sharing the daily agenda by engaging with different regions, attending key meetings, and participating in business visits. The plan includes representing the company at international conferences, preparing presentations for the executive committee, and managing a workforce that exceeds 2,400 employees. This exposure helps a young leader understand how large organizations navigate diverse markets and complex operational challenges.
The initiative is designed as a practical bridge between university or early career training and the demanding realities of executive leadership. It emphasizes core capabilities such as leadership presence, effective communication, team management, and resilience under pressure. The experience provides broader insights into how human capital strategies drive organizational growth, which is especially relevant for regions aiming to attract and retain young talent in today’s competitive job market.
Mendelibe was selected from a pool of about 3,000 applicants in Spain after a process that culminated on June 3. The selection combined in-person assessments with virtual evaluations to ensure a comprehensive view of each candidate. One notable part of the evaluation was a video interview, followed by the Riders of History test, a gamified assessment tool provided by the Adecco Group. Such tools test decision-making, strategic thinking, and the ability to adapt to evolving business needs.
Three finalists advanced to the grand final: Ana Buiza, Carla Cabrera, and Mikel Mendibe. After multiple consultations with human resources experts and the Spain CEO, Mendibe emerged as the chosen leader for the month. His appointment marks a milestone for a program that seeks to demonstrate how fresh insights from younger professionals can shape a company’s approach to talent development and workforce planning.
With the appointment, Mendibe will serve as Adecco Spain’s CEO for thirty days. Beyond the local scope, there is potential to become the company’s global CEO contender, working alongside Denis Machuel, the group’s anticipated global chief executive. To reach that level, Mendibe would need to place among the top ten candidates from a pool of forty-seven worldwide finalists. Success could lead to an intensive training camp held during the summer, giving the eventual global director a deeper, hands-on understanding of Adecco’s global network and strategic priorities.
This program is more than a ceremonial title. It is a practical platform for young professionals to gain firsthand leadership experience, build international networks, and develop the business acumen needed to drive inclusive growth across markets. It underlines Adecco’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of managers who can navigate the evolving landscape of work, technology, and talent development in North America and beyond. [Source attribution: Adecco Group internal communications]