The Figure of the Executive in the Management of the Modern Company: Pedro Durán Farell and Catalana de Gas (1950–1970)

Juan Manuel Matés-Barco (), María Vázquez-Fariñas () and Mariano Castro-Valdivia ()
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Juan Manuel Matés-Barco: University of Jaén, Department of Economics
María Vázquez-Fariñas: University of Málaga, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History, Faculty of Economics and Business Studies
Mariano Castro-Valdivia: University of Jaén, Department of Economics

A chapter in Business Trajectories in the History of Spain, 2026, pp 123-136 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter examines the professional trajectory of Pedro Durán Farell, a pivotal figure in the modernisation of Catalana de Gas and the development of the natural gas sector in Spain between 1950 and 1970. Amidst the broader historiographical shift in Spain from collective institutions to individual entrepreneurs, Durán’s career exemplifies the integration of innovation, risk-taking, and managerial acumen within a transforming economic landscape. Beginning his career in the construction of hydroelectric plants in Catalonia, Durán quickly emerged as a skilled negotiator and strategic leader, fostering collaborations with both national institutions and international actors, notably in Algeria and across Europe. His engagement with emerging technologies, particularly in gas liquefaction and distribution, positioned Catalana de Gas at the forefront of energy modernisation. The study highlights Durán’s role in the creation of Gas Natural, S.A., illustrating the intersection of corporate governance, technological innovation, and international business relations. Furthermore, his extensive personal networks, including close ties with political and banking figures, facilitated industrial development and policy influence. By analysing Durán’s entrepreneurial biography, this work underscores the significance of individual agency in economic and technological change, emphasising the interplay between leadership, organisational structure, and strategic decision-making within Spain’s mid-twentieth-century energy sector.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Natural gas; Corporate governance; Technological innovation; Industrial development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:frochp:978-3-032-16214-4_9

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-16214-4_9

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