What: Cristina Álvarez’s first board meeting as president of El Corte Inglés introduced a new purchasing structure and strengthened digital and operational leadership to support omnichannel growth.

Why it is important: Strengthening digital and supply chain leadership is essential for meeting evolving customer expectations and supporting long-term transformation.

Cristina Álvarez has initiated a significant restructuring at El Corte Inglés, focusing on the purchasing, digital, and operations divisions to align the company with the demands of omnichannel retail. The purchasing department has been split into two specialised areas: fashion, home, and entertainment, led by Laura Moreno, and food, electronics, and appliances, overseen by Jorge Otero. This division is designed to deepen category expertise and enhance risk management, reflecting a broader industry shift toward specialisation. In parallel, the creation of cross-functional departments and the appointment of Enrique García López to lead operations, customer experience, digital, and the transformation office signal a strong commitment to digital acceleration and supply chain optimisation. These changes are intended to optimise logistics, accelerate digitalisation, and adapt the operating model to new customer behaviours, while maintaining continuity in key executive roles to ensure stability. El Corte Inglés is thus positioning itself for sustained growth and resilience in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

IADS Notes: In January 2026, El Confidencial reported on the leadership changes and purchasing reorganisation at El Corte Inglés. Modaes (June and October 2025) detailed earlier moves toward category management and internal promotions, while March 2025 coverage in El Confidencial highlighted the creation of the Transformation Office. America Retail (February 2025) analysed the company’s broader strategy of digital expansion, store modernisation, and management restructuring to support omnichannel growth.

El Corte Inglés: Cristina Álvarez accelerates digitalisation and reviews the purchasing strategy