Francisco Martínez-Cosentino Justo (pictured), president of the Cosentino Group and one of its founders, has begun marking the 40th anniversary of the company’s start by acknowledging the “unexpected and profound” circumstances facing the global market.
This year is 40 years since the creation of the commercial company “Mármoles Cosentino S.A.”, the genesis of The Cosentino Group. In these four decades, the Spanish giant has grown to a turnover of more than €1.1bn with a presence in 40 countries and almost 5,000 employees worldwide.
“Together with my brothers, we wanted to create a project that was lasting, sustainable, and that would generate wealth for our nearest community and our entire sector. Those first dreams have been fulfilled,” he said.
“But the journey has been complicated, with very hard times. These months we’re getting to live another one of them. An unexpected and profound global health, social and economic crisis which will surely transform us all. [This year] has not brought us a favourable context to commemorate our 40 years of life.”
Martínez-Cosentino Justo went on to pay tribute to key workers, emphasising a ‘message of optimism’.
“However, it is precisely in this type of situation that we must look further,” he said. “It’s time to honour all those professionals…but it’s also time to be strong, positive and to send a sincere message of optimism.
“We are experts in comebacks… in Cosentino, in our province, our region and our country. All together and united we will get through, no doubt. And, therefore, we want to continue to celebrate this birthday in the coming months, as far as possible.”
Until the end of the year, Cosentino will carry out different initiatives to recognise and thank different groups for their contribution to company’s success over the past 40 years.
UK regional director, Paul Gidley also paid his own tribute: “Having worked for Cosentino for the past nine years, and witnessing its continual growth and expansion, it’s an honour to be leading the UK team at such a pivotal point; in both the company’s history, but also during a global pandemic. What has set Cosentino apart, and always has, is its people-first approach. This mindset ripples throughout the whole company, and will be what pulls us through this unprecedented period of time.”