{
  "id": 7666502,
  "title": "Javier Echave leaves Heathrow after 18 years to join Merlin Properties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/javier-echave-deja-heathrow-tras-18-anos-para-fichar-por-merlin",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-16T00:30:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Expansion ES",
    "slug": "expansion-es",
    "url": "https://www.expansion.com/empresas/2026/09/16/6aa93d06e5fdea0c188b457f.html"
  },
  "original_language": "es",
  "account": "Javier Echave Espot, a veteran executive from Ferrovial, is leaving his position as Chief Operating Officer at London's Heathrow airport to join Merlin Properties in Spain as its new Chief Financial Officer. Echave, who has spent nearly two decades at Heathrow, will return to Spain with his family in October to take on the new role. He previously served as Heathrow's CFO from 2016 to 2024 and played a key role in securing 25 billion pounds in financing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Merlin Properties, a real estate company listed on the Ibex, is planning to grow its data center business and will need to access markets for financing, having recently completed a 767 million euro capital increase.",
  "summary": "El ejecutivo regresa a España para hacerse cargo del departamento financiero de la empresa inmobiliaria del Ibex en pleno plan de crecimiento con los centros de datos. Leer",
  "key_points": [
    "Javier Echave steps down as Heathrow CEO after 18 years",
    "Joins Merlin Properties as CFO in Spain",
    "Financial expertise crucial for Merlin's data center expansion"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Javier Echave's departure from Heathrow and move to Merlin Properties marks a significant gain for the Spanish property company, which is planning major growth in the data center sector.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}