Fundación Exit strengthens its board with the addition of Juan Gandarias and Anna Roca

Fundación Exit takes another step in strengthening its governance with the addition of two new members to its Board: Juan Gandarias, who assumes the vice presidency after serving on the Advisory Council, and Anna Roca, who joins as a board member. Both additions bring strategic experience in business and communication, two key levers to continue expanding the organization’s impact.

“The sustainability of an organization begins with the necessity of its purpose,” says Juan Gandarias.

Juan Gandarias has over 30 years of experience in senior management roles, leadership, and boards of directors in large corporations, especially in the banking sector. He is currently a board member in companies of the CaixaBank group and a senior advisor in several Family Offices. After two years linked to the Advisory Council, he now takes a further step in his commitment to the Foundation.

“Being part of the Board means greater involvement, especially in strategic decision-making. At the core, it’s about continuing to support Fundación Exit to fulfill its mission and objectives, but from a more active role,” he affirms.

For Gandarias, the decision to deepen his involvement reflects the coherence between purpose, management, and results. “I wanted to collaborate with organizations that had truly professional management. Helping is important, but results come when there is strong management behind it.” In this regard, he highlights that “good corporate governance and professional management are key for a social project to endure over time. Fundación Exit has professionalization comparable to that of a private company, and that is fundamental.”

From his experience in business and finance, he also emphasizes the structural relevance of the organization’s purpose: “The sustainability of an organization begins with the necessity of its purpose, and in the case of Fundación Exit it is evident: over 25 years, more than 15,000 young people have had opportunities they would otherwise not have had.”

Juan Gandarias also focuses on the role companies must play in addressing early school leaving and the shortage of certain professional profiles: “There is a clear reality: on one hand, early school leaving; on the other, companies unable to find talent for specific jobs. This is a challenge we must tackle together.” In his view, “collaboration between business, the social sector, and educational centers forms a triangle that makes perfect sense for generating real youth employment opportunities,” always from a long-term perspective: “These initiatives require a strategic outlook; results are not immediate, but the impact they generate is structural.”

“The more relevant the brand is in social and business conversations, the greater its capacity to transform more lives,” says Anna Roca.

Alongside Juan Gandarias, Anna Roca joins the Board as a member. She holds a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from UAB and a PDD from IESE, with over 25 years of experience in communication and advertising. She is currently General Director of the creative agency After and Vice President of APG Spain. Throughout her career, she has held roles in creativity, strategy, and management in agencies such as Proximity, BBDO, Contrapunto, and Órbital.

“After more than 25 years working in communication and creativity, it is increasingly clear to me that talent without opportunities is lost. And as a society, we cannot allow that,” she explains. “Joining the Board was a conscious and responsible decision. I deeply believe in the capacity of young people and the importance of having someone to guide them in key moments. Often, it is not a lack of talent, but a lack of role models, guidance, and confidence.”

From her strategic perspective, Anna Roca sees communication as an essential lever to scale impact. “Communication is the key to great causes. If it’s not explained well, it isn’t understood. And if it isn’t understood, it isn’t mobilized. Fundación Exit does enormous work that still needs to be more widely known.” In her view, communication must make impact visible, provide data, tell real stories, and above all, generate conversation. “Visibility is key,” she adds.

Looking to the future, she identifies three major opportunities to strengthen the organization’s positioning: leading the field of vulnerable youth talent through knowledge and data; building a distinctive narrative that changes the mental framework and positions it as a matter of competitiveness and future; and continuing to highlight companies as visible protagonists of the solution. “The more relevant the brand is in social and business conversations, the greater its capacity to transform more lives.”

With these additions, Fundación Exit strengthens its Board with profiles that bring strategic vision, governance experience, and positioning ability—key elements to continue generating educational and employment opportunities for young people in situations of social vulnerability.