Accidental fall or murder? The Catalan police confirmed this Friday, October 17, that the investigation continues into the death, almost a year ago, of the founder of Mango, initially considered accidental, but today focused on the hypothesis of a homicide committed by his son, according to the Spanish press.
A possible homicide
Isak Andic, 71, who had created one of the largest fashion brands from scratch, with around 2,850 stores around the world, died after falling on December 14 while walking with his eldest son, Jonathan, near Barcelona (northeast). His death caused great emotion in the business world.
The Catalan police have now reclassified their investigation as a possible homicide and are focusing their investigations on his son Jonathan Andic, writes the newspaper El País, which cites “various sources close to the investigation.” He is considered innocent.
The Catalan police, for their part, confirmed to AFP that the investigation was still ongoing, without specifying the reasons. “From a procedural point of view, no specific person has been or is being attacked (directly) in this phase,” the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia assured AFP.
According to El País, Jonathan, who was the only person who was with his father at the time of his death, was questioned twice and his statements revealed “contradictions” that fueled suspicions.
According to the newspaper, another witness, Estefanía Knuth, a professional golfer and partner of the victim, described to the police the poor relationship between father and son.
The suspicious son
Questioned by El País, the family said they were confident that “this process will end as quickly as possible and will prove Jonathan Andic’s innocence.” When consulted by AFP, the Mango group had not responded by early afternoon.
Born in 1953 to a Jewish family in Istanbul, Turkey, Isak Andic emigrated to Spain as a teenager with his family, before opening his first Mango store in 1984 on Paseo de Gracia, a famous shopping street in Barcelona, with the help of his older brother Nahman.
Their brand expanded rapidly throughout Spain and became one of the leading fashion groups worldwide. The company has more than 16,400 employees, according to its website.
In December 2023, Isak Andic opened Mango’s capital for the first time, selling 5% to Toni Ruiz, current president of the board of directors.
Driven by the success of his group, Isak Andic was, at the time of his death, at the end of 2024, one of the richest people in Spain, with a fortune estimated by Forbes at $4.5 billion.
The Spanish-Turkish businessman posthumously received the Gold Medal of Catalonia in February, the highest award granted by the Generalitat of Catalonia. He was named a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 2018.
His son Jonathan, for his part, joined the family group in 2005, before holding various management positions, until being named current vice president of Mango’s board of directors.
In a video released in April 2023 by the ready-to-wear giant, the latter assured: “If you clearly know where you want to go and always move forward, you will eventually reach your goals.”
Source: BFM TV
