Josep Maria Bartomeu first made a name for himself as part of Joan Laporta’s team in 2003. He got his role thanks to his friend Sandro Rosell, who was Laporta’s running mate and who would years later become President himself.
Interestingly, Bartomeu has the dubious honour of being the first board member of the Laporta administration to resign. Many followed him but he clearly set the precedent. It is, however, also clear, as Jose María García has pointed out, that he resigned “ten minutes before they sacked him.” Laporta himself admitted that this version of events wasn’t far from the truth. So different were their points of view that on one occasion they even argued in public at a press conference.
He is said to be a talented mediator, open to dialogue and good to work with. Those who know him say that his smile reminds many of the first team players of Nobita, a character from the Japanese cartoon Doraemon. His business exploits shouldn’t be dismissed either. His jetway business is a worldwide giant of the airport industry.
He returned to Barcelona in 2010 as Rosell’s Vice-President. And when Rosell resigned in 2013 he stepped in. The perfect number two made himself indispensable and set about leading decisively and convincingly. Just ask Andoni Zubizarreta. Not long ago the situation looked lost. Now he’ll be President for the next six years.