ARTAL Smart Agriculture mourns the irreparable loss of José Francisco Casañ Gil -Pepe for everyone- or “PepeYayo” for his family since his daughter Marta made him a grandfather for the first time 7 years ago.
In 1984, Pepe joined the company, where he has been serving as chief accounting officer until his recent retirement, on September 11. But to say that Pepe was ARTAL’s accountant is a very, very understatement. Since he began his professional career in the company, then led by Mr. Francisco R. Artal Such – third generation of the company, founded in 1895 -, Pepe quickly became a great ally of the company and the family that owns it. In the right hand of Paco Artal.
After more than twenty years at his service, he was a prominent protagonist of the generational change: he helped and accompanied the transition so that the fourth generation took the reins of the company, a journey that came to fruition thanks to his support, commitment and dedication.
Pepe was not ARTAL’s accountant, he was part of ARTAL and was respected and loved by all his colleagues, clients and suppliers that we were lucky enough to deal with; “Knowing him was loving him,” as he liked to say. He was an institution, the heart of the company.
Pepe has been one of those unique, special and unrepeatable people. Among his many virtues, his dynamism, energy, vitality, decisive character, humility, conciliatory ability and loyalty stood out. A gift that life put at our side.
During these 39 years, he was the first person to call when things went wrong and the person to be with when the waters calmed down, to be able to reason or discuss concerns and projects; always willing to have a good conversation and provide his help and support.
Life is sometimes unfair and does not give back to people everything they give. Pepe claimed that he was retiring but that he was not disappearing, and that for anything all we had to do was call him and he will be here in 10 minutes, but just 13 days after his retirement, he was taken away from our side, but not from our hearts.
As we told you on the afternoon of your retirement: “It has been an honor and a privilege to have you with us and thank you very much for having taken care of the company and the Artal family all these years.”
Wherever you are, we hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
You have always been and will be part of ARTAL and we will never forget you.
A big hug, PEPE
RIP