Rafa Barbé - Managing Director

Q: Where is Rafa based?

Rafa is based in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain .

Q: What languages does Rafa speak?

Rafa speaks the following languages: Catalan (Native), Spanish (Native), English (Advanced), French (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Rafa have?

Rafa has at least 33 years of experience. During this time, Rafa has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 10 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 4 months . Note that Rafa may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Rafa's latest experience?

Rafa's most recent position is Managing Director at INTERSPORT España .

Q: What companies has Rafa worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Rafa has worked for INTERSPORT España , Metyis , and Independent Consultant & Advisor .

Q: Which industries is Rafa most experienced in?

Rafa is most experienced in industries like Retail , Professional Services , and Fashion . Rafa also has some experience in Banking and Finance , Chemical , and Food and Beverage .

Q: Which business areas is Rafa most experienced in?

Rafa is most experienced in business areas like Strategy , Operations , and Investments and M&A . Rafa also has some experience in Supply Chain Management , Finance , and Sales .

Q: Which industries has Rafa worked in recently?

Rafa has recently worked in industries like Retail , Fashion , and Banking and Finance .

Q: Which business areas has Rafa worked in recently?

Rafa has recently worked in business areas like Strategy , Investments and M&A , and Operations .

Recommended expert

Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain

Check rate

Experience

Jan 2024 - Dec 2025

2 years

Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain

Managing Director

INTERSPORT España

Initiated the restructuring of a multi-entity retail group (300+ employees, 42 owned and 150+ affiliated stores) and filed for voluntary insolvency proceedings.
Negotiated with banks and key suppliers (Nike, Adidas, etc.) and potential investors to secure business continuity.
Defined and managed a comprehensive restructuring plan focused on cash flow enhancement, downsizing, store closings, profitability recovery, and governance overhaul.
Prepared pre-insolvency and voluntary insolvency proceedings and a proposal for creditor’s agreement.

Jan 2021 - Dec 2022

2 years

Barcelona, Spain

Director

Metyis

Directed transformation projects for various clients, including the world’s largest airport operator and Spain’s top brewing company, focusing on strategic growth and operational excellence.

Jan 2017 - Present

9 years 4 months

Barcelona, Spain

Consultant & Advisor

Independent Consultant & Advisor

Advised retail, fashion, and consumer goods companies on strategic initiatives.
Supported venture capital and private equity clients in M&A due diligences, build-up, and business development.

Jan 2008 - Dec 2016

9 years

Barcelona, Spain

Director

Accenture Strategy

Developed the Retail Strategy practice.
Partnered with C-level executives of top-tier companies to drive growth strategies, manage turnarounds, commercial repositioning programs, restructuring of operations, and design of efficient route-to-markets.

Jan 2007 - Dec 2008

2 years

London, United Kingdom

European Director

George Group

Contributed to the firm’s entry into Europe, forging initial client relationships and setting up the management consulting practice.

Jan 2005 - Dec 2007

3 years

Barcelona, Spain

Consultant and Freelance

Independent Consultant and Freelance

Worked for diverse SMEs in various sectors preparing business plans and company valuations to negotiate with potential investors (VC).

Jan 2002 - Dec 2004

3 years

Barcelona, Spain

Managing Director - Spain

Horváth & Partners / Inter-Ben Consulting

Jan 2000 - Dec 2002

3 years

Madrid, Spain

Case Team Leader

The Monitor Company

Jan 1996 - Dec 2000

5 years

Manager

Kearney

Jan 1992 - Dec 1994

3 years

Les Fonts, Spain

Regional Sales Manager

Lamirsa – Laboratorios Miret

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Retail, Professional Services, Fashion, Banking and Finance, Chemical, and Food and Beverage.

Retail

Professional Services

Fashion

Banking and Finance

Chemical

Food and Beverage

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Strategy, Operations, Investments and M&A, Supply Chain Management, Finance, and Sales.

Strategy

Operations

Investments and M&A

Supply Chain Management

Finance

Sales

Summary

Senior executive with hands-on experience leading restructuring, turnarounds, commercial repositioning, and growth strategies across multiple sectors. My career combines strategy consulting with executive leadership—including Managing Director and interim roles—often in complex, financially pressured situations to stabilize operations, restore performance, and build foundations for growth. Pragmatic, collaborative, and results-driven, I focus on building ownership, setting clear direction, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and driving disciplined execution with an emphasis on transparency and performance. I partner closely with Boards, CEOs, and investors to strengthen business models, enhance performance, and deliver sustainable growth.

Skills

Strategy And Business Re-alignment: Definition And Execution Of Strategic Plans, Including Market Entry, Competitive Positioning, Value Proposition Design, Go-to-market Strategies, And Diversification.
Turnaround And Commercial Repositioning: Proven Ability To Reposition Retail Concepts, Restore Customer Relevance, And Rebuild Profitability. Deep Expertise In Category Management, Assortment Rationalization, Major Brands And Private Label Portfolio Optimization, Pricing And Promotion Architecture, Margin Management Across The Product Life Cycle, Customer Experience Redesign, Omnichannel Integration, And Operational Efficiency.
Growth: Design And Execution Of Growth Initiatives, Including Franchising Model Design And Commercialization, And New Retail Concepts Development. Contribution To Inorganic Growth Initiatives, Including M&a Opportunity Scouting, Buy-side Due Diligence, And Post-merger Integration Management.
Restructuring And Crisis Management: Hands-on Leadership In Distressed And Insolvency-adjacent Situations (Operational Collapse, Bank Default, Cessation Of Supply). Delivered Rapid Feasibility Assessments, Operational Stabilization, And Cash Preservation Through Cost Reduction, Footprint Rationalization, Working Capital Optimization, And Asset Divestments. Secured Business Continuity Through Creditor And Supplier Negotiations, Investor Discussions, And Preparation Of Insolvency Fillings (Pre-insolvency And Voluntary Insolvency Proceedings), And Creditor’s Agreement.
Industry Focus: Deep Expertise In Retail Economics Across Fashion, Sporting Goods, Beauty & Health, Home Appliances, Consumer Electronics, And Grocery Formats, With Additional Experience In Automotive, Cpg, Travel, And Industrial Equipment. This Cross-sector Exposure Allows Me To Adapt Proven Operating Models To Diverse Market Contexts.

Languages

Catalan

Native

Spanish

Native

English

Advanced

French

Intermediate

Education

Jan 1995 - Jun 1995

Columbia Business School

MBA Exchange Program · New York, United States

Oct 1994 - Jun 1996

IESE Business School

MBA · Barcelona, Spain

Oct 1991 - Jun 1992

ETSEIB-UPC

Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management · Operations Management · Barcelona, Spain

...and 1 more

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 10

Experience in Retail 18.5 y

Avg length 4 y 1 m

Longest experience 9 y 3 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 2 (Spain, United Kingdom)

Primary country Spain

Expertise

Recent roles Managing Director, Director, Consultant & Advisor

Main industries Retail, Professional Services, Fashion

Main business areas Strategy, Operations, Investments and M&A

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Profile

Created

April 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Rafa based?

Rafa is based in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain.

What languages does Rafa speak?

Rafa speaks the following languages: Catalan (Native), Spanish (Native), English (Advanced), French (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Rafa have?

Rafa has at least 33 years of experience. During this time, Rafa has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 10 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 4 months. Note that Rafa may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Rafa be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Rafa would be well-suited for roles such as: Managing Director, Director, Consultant & Advisor.

What is Rafa's latest experience?

Rafa's most recent position is Managing Director at INTERSPORT España.

What companies has Rafa worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Rafa has worked for INTERSPORT España, Metyis, and Independent Consultant & Advisor.

Which industries is Rafa most experienced in?

Rafa is most experienced in industries like Retail, Professional Services, and Fashion. Rafa also has some experience in Banking and Finance, Chemical, and Food and Beverage.

Which business areas is Rafa most experienced in?

Rafa is most experienced in business areas like Strategy, Operations, and Investments and M&A. Rafa also has some experience in Supply Chain Management, Finance, and Sales.

Which industries has Rafa worked in recently?

Rafa has recently worked in industries like Retail, Fashion, and Banking and Finance.

Which business areas has Rafa worked in recently?

Rafa has recently worked in business areas like Strategy, Investments and M&A, and Operations.

What is Rafa's education?

Rafa holds a Master from Columbia Business School, a Master from IESE Business School and a Master in Chemical Engineering from IQS.

What is the availability of Rafa?

Rafa will be available from May 2026.

What is the rate of Rafa?

Rafa's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.