Vincent Goehrs, Founding President of GRANDPRIX, pays tribute to Carles Vilarrubí—a towering figure of the international equestrian world, his father-in-law and mentor.

Carles Vilarrubí, a prominent figure in the international equestrian community, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, December 28. His unexpected death has left his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of sharing part of his journey in immense grief. The international equestrian community has lost one of its most knowledgeable and respected representatives. I have lost a dear friend, a father-in-law, and a mentor. 

Born in 1954, the beginning of Carles Vilarrubí’s professional life coincided with the advent of democracy in Spain and with Catalonia’s opportunity to assert and gain recognition for its identity. Throughout his life, he was a relentless advocate for Catalan culture and language.

A tireless entrepreneur, he initiated and led a number of projects for his region that continue to shape the daily lives of Catalans today. He first served as director of Catalunya Radio, the Catalan public radio station, before becoming a driving force behind RAC1, which went on to become the country’s leading news radio station. He later took the reins of the Catalan Gaming and Betting Society, before joining the national telephone operator Telefónica, which later became Movistar. His career continued in the financial sector, where he spent 20 years as vice president of Rothschild Bank in Spain, supporting the development of many of the country’s leading companies.

A lifelong sports enthusiast and unconditional supporter of FC Barcelona, Carles Vilarrubí served as vice president of the club from 2010 to 2017. During that time, he played an undeniable role in giving the Blaugrana institution a unique institutional and cultural dimension. Following his resignation on October 1, 2017—expressing his disagreement with the police repression during the Catalan independence referendum held that day—FC Barcelona lost what many considered its finest ambassador off the field.

From 2016 until his passing, he presided over the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy and Nutrition, which he transformed into a leading institution and a key instrument for promoting, observing, researching, and disseminating Catalan gastronomy. Like soccer, cuisine is universal, and Carles Vilarrubí understood this deeply. He championed a demanding yet inclusive vision: cuisine as cultural heritage, from the finest restaurants to the most modest kitchens, with particular attention to small producers and the transmission of knowledge.

Equestrian sport was another of his great passions. The father of three children, he passed on his love of equestrian competition to his eldest daughter, Carlota Vilarrubí Jordà, and to his wife, Sol Daurella. He founded and chaired Oxer Sport, a Spanish equestrian event organization, until 2017. Under his leadership, Oxer Sport developed major international events including the Longines Global Champions Tour in Madrid (Spain) and Mexico City (Mexico), Madrid Horse Week, and competitions in La Coruña (Spain), among others.

He also founded and chaired the International Jumping Owners Club, later becoming its honorary president. In recent years, he served on the commercial advisory committee of the Fédération Équestre Internationale at the request of its president, Ingmar de Vos. He was also president of the Longines Deauville Classic, Chantilly Classic, Cabourg Classic, and many other international events organized by GRANDPRIX.

In 2007, Carles Vilarrubí was among the very first to encourage me to create the company that would become GRANDPRIX. From that moment on, he remained a loyal, available, and generous supporter—always valuing ambition, encouraging risk-taking, and never dwelling on past mistakes. As a witness to the second half of his life, he showed me what it means to have the courage to be an entrepreneur while remaining true to oneself and to others.

He taught me that work allows one to be multifaceted without being contradictory; that discretion, moderation, and elegance in no way prevent commitment and efficiency; that dialogue and courtesy are never secondary and are owed to everyone; and that individual success only finds meaning when it incorporates a collective, or even public, dimension.

His life and vast legacy are an inspiration to take action, both great and small, with rigor, efficiency, and humility.

Carles Vilarrubí was a gentleman of immense stature.
Carles was my friend.
We miss him.

Vincent Goehrs