What: Fernando de Peña, former Mallplaza general manager, has been appointed chairman of Grupo Falabella, bringing 35 years of experience in regional shopping center development and digital integration.

Why it is important: Falabella’s record profits and operational improvements in 2025 underscore the value of experienced leadership and strategic investment in driving growth and efficiency across retail, financial services, and shopping centers.

Grupo Falabella has appointed Fernando de Peña as its new chairman, leveraging his 35 years of experience in regional shopping centre development and digital integration. De Peña’s leadership at Mallplaza transformed the business from a single centre in Chile into a regional platform with 37 operations across Chile, Peru, and Colombia, pioneering the integration of commerce, services, and experiences. His appointment comes as Falabella posted record profits of US$1.485 billion and a record EBITDA of US$2.144 billion in 2025, driven by operational improvements, asset revaluation, and a balanced approach to physical and digital retail. The group’s ongoing investment surge—$900 million in 2026 for store openings, remodelling, and digital upgrades—reinforces its commitment to regional leadership and innovation. With Peru contributing 28% to regional revenue and Mallplaza’s ambitious growth strategy, Falabella is well-positioned to consolidate its growth and sustain its leadership in Latin American retail, supported by a new board composition focused on governance and long-term value creation.

IADS Notes: The appointment of Fernando de Peña as chairman of Grupo Falabella marks a strategic inflexion point for the company, leveraging his 35 years of experience in regional shopping centre development and digital integration. Under his leadership at Mallplaza, the business expanded from a single centre in Chile to a regional platform with 37 operations across Chile, Peru, and Colombia, pioneering the integration of commerce, services, and experiences. This expertise is particularly relevant as Falabella closed 2025 with a 9% revenue increase and tripled net profit, driven by operational improvements and a balanced approach to physical and digital retail (Modaes, February 2026). The group’s ongoing investment surge—$900 million in 2026 for store openings, remodelling, and digital upgrades—reinforces its commitment to regional leadership and innovation (Modaes, January 2026). Peru’s contribution of 28% to regional revenue and Mallplaza’s ambitious growth strategy further highlight the importance of diversified, experience-driven retail in Falabella’s ecosystem (Perú Retail, June 2025; March 2025). The new board composition, with a focus on governance and long-term value creation, positions Falabella to consolidate its growth and sustain its leadership in Latin American retail.

Fernando De Peña takes over as the new president of Grupo Falabella