Accent Obert begins a new stage with the appointment of Joan Abellà Barril as its new General Director. The decision, taken unanimously by the Executive Committee and confirmed by the Board of Trustees on 18 December 2024, marks the succession of Roger Serra, who has recently joined the Government of the Generalitat as Director General for Language Policy in the technological and audiovisual fields.
Abellà, born in Pont d’Armentera in 1971, has a broad professional background in the cultural and social sectors. He holds a law degree from the University of Barcelona, with executive training from ESADE and IESE, and brings valuable experience in team and talent management. His professional career includes legal advisory roles for institutions such as the Filmoteca de Catalunya, the Espai de Dansa i Música, and the Auditori de Barcelona, as well as leadership positions in prominent entities such as the Poble Espanyol de Barcelona, the management of MACBA, the executive direction of Gaudí’s Casa Vicens, and, since 2018, the position of CEO of Grup Enciclopèdia.
His commitment to civil society is reflected in his participation as secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Fundació Bofill and as secretary and treasurer of the Fundació Joan Brossa. In addition, he has served as President of the Gremi d’Editors de Catalunya and as vice president of Òmnium Cultural during the terms of Jordi Porta and Muriel Casals, and has collaborated with organisations such as the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia, the Fundació Tot Raval, and the TR3SC Culture Club. It is worth noting that Abellà already knows Accent Obert, as he was previously a member of its Board of Trustees.
Genís Roca, president of the .cat Foundation, highlighted Abellà’s merit: “We value very positively his experience in senior management, his knowledge of the cultural and social sector, his commitment to the causes and foundational objectives we work on, and his solid understanding of the organisation and our activity.” Roca also expressed satisfaction with Roger Serra’s incorporation into the Government, considering it “good news and a recognition of the work carried out at the Foundation.”
For his part, Joan Abellà expressed his commitment to the Foundation’s mission: “The Foundation is growing and has both an institutional and professional structure that is prepared for the challenges our language and culture will face in the digital world. The diagnosis is shared, and my commitment is to ensure that the Foundation continues to be a socially useful tool.”
The Board of Trustees thanked Roger Serra for his work and wished him success in his new stage. Genís Roca concluded: “We are proud to attract talent and help it grow, as well as to place it at the service of the country; now, each from their own field, we will continue to share the same goal: defending the interests and upholding the rights of Catalan speakers in the digital world.”
With the appointment of Joan Abellà, the .cat Foundation strengthens its leadership in promoting the Catalan language and culture in the digital environment, confidently facing the challenges of the future.
