Carlos leaves an indelible mark on those of us who have had the good fortune to work with him, and his loss, in the tragic and preventable Urda train accident, is all the more painful. At Sport Life Ibérica, our company, we struggle to find words to express the desolation we feel at the sudden passing of Carlos Martínez Millet. His departure leaves a tremendous void in our organization, but above all among all the people who have had the luck to share life and work with him.
Carlos has been far more than a reference professional. He was one of those fundamental people who appear in the history of a company and who, with his work, his commitment, and his understanding of human relations, decisively contribute to keeping a project moving forward, even when circumstances seem to grow particularly difficult.
Throughout his tenure at Sport Life Ibérica, Carlos held roles of immense significance, connected to financial management, operations, human resources, the Board of Directors, and the shareholder base. A broad range of duties that speaks to his capability, his global view of the business, and, above all, the trust that all employees have always placed in his judgment.
But reducing his contribution to his responsibilities would be far from capturing what Carlos has meant for Sport Life Ibérica and for all of us.
Those of us who have lived through some of the most challenging moments in the history of our company know how crucial his contribution was. In such a demanding and changing sector as communications and specialized publishing, Sport Life Ibérica has faced extraordinarily difficult situations. Moments in which it was necessary to make complex decisions, find solutions, maintain perspective, and, above all, not lose faith in the project.
Carlos was there. He was always there.
His analytical capability, his knowledge of the company, his strategic vision, and his professional solvency were fundamental tools to confront many of those situations. He possessed that valuable combination of rigor, experience, and practical sense that allows addressing problems without losing sight of what is truly important.
Carlos was a person capable of understanding the company as a whole, of anticipating difficulties, of seeking alternatives, and of bringing calm when it was most needed. A professional who does not merely fulfill his responsibilities but truly commits to the fate of what he helps to build.
And yet, if there is something we want to highlight today above all, it is his human quality.
Because Carlos was not important only for what he knew how to do, but also for how he did it and for how he related to those around him. His presence, his judgment, his commitment, and his way of facing difficulties left a mark that goes far beyond any title or responsibility.
At Sport Life Ibérica we have always sought to understand our organization as more than just a company. We are a team of people who have shared hopes, uncertainties, difficulties, successes, and also very tough moments. A professional family that has learned to move forward together.
Carlos has been one of those people who make it possible for a company to feel this way. Someone to count on, someone whose contribution was essential, and someone who, from his position and his understanding of work, helped to keep alive that sense of belonging.
That is why his loss affects us so deeply. Because we are not bidding farewell to merely a colleague with an extraordinary professional trajectory. We bid farewell to a person who will always be part of our history, of our shared efforts and of everything we have managed to build, with contributions highly relevant to the future of the company.
There are careers that can be summarized in roles, responsibilities, and results. And there are others that are measured also by the trust they generate, the problems they help solve, the people they accompany, and the footprint they leave when they are no longer here.
Carlos encompassed it all, without a doubt. Because Carlos was always there.
We are left with gratitude for so many years of commitment, for his contribution to Sport Life Ibérica, for having stood by us in the moments when we needed him most, and for all that he taught us, professionally and personally.
Carlos, thank you for helping us reach this point. For your work, for your trust, for your commitment, and for having been such an important part of this family.
Your legacy will continue to be present in our company and, especially, in those of us who had the fortune to work and share the journey with you.
You will always be part of Sport Life Ibérica. Because Carlos was always there. As Sport Life Ibérica will be for his wife, María José, and for his son, Marcos, from now on.
With all our love and infinite gratitude,
The Sport Life Ibérica family
