Ananas Anam, the parent company of Piñatex known for its environmentally friendly textile solutions, has appointed a new CEO. he newly appointed CEO, Italian executive Silvia Bernardini, joins the company after a 17-year tenure at Swarovski, where she held several positions, including vice president.

Bernardini brings extensive experience in the sector and profound expertise in B2B sales, customer relations, marketing, and brand development, which will aid in steering the company through its industrial transition in the textile innovation arena, as stated by the company.

“It is an honor to leverage my experience for the benefit of Ananas Anam. It is rare to find a company that so effectively connects people with ecology, with sustainability embedded in its DNA. We are poised to play a pivotal role in transforming the textile industry, and I am eager to collaborate with our partners to provide them with long-term sustainable textile solutions,” commented Bernardini on her appointment.

Bernardini succeeds Manel Echevarria, who became CEO of the company last September, after building his career at companies like Swarovski, MontBlanc, and Lacoste Iberia, where he served as the head from 2018 to 2020. Echevarria left Ananas Anam a few weeks ago to take on the role of general manager at the sustainable brand Ecoalf.

Founded by Carmen Hinojosa from Asturias, the company currently works with materials such as Piñatex, a leather-like product, its innovative biodegradable thread Piñayarn, and its premium fabric Anam Palf, all derived from pineapple. Since its inception, Ananas Anam has collaborated with major fashion industry brands like Hugo Boss, H&M, and Ecoalf.