Adolfo Utor, President of Baleària

Adolfo Utor was born in 1961 in Al Hoceima, Morocco, but from a very young age, he settled in the coastal town of Dénia, Spain, by the old Montgó Massif. The eldest of four brothers, today he is the president and sole shareholder of Baleària. As a student, he proved to be a young man committed to democracy, freedom, and social progress, who was aware that the value of individuals multiplies when they act as citizens.. 

At the age of 23, he joined the former Flebasa shipping company, a subsidiary of Isnasa, and the predecessor of today's Baleària. He was a ticket clerk, a boat mooring attendant, a ticket office manager, a sales representative, and an administrative representative in Ibiza until he became the company's general manager in 1990. From this position, he led an expansion process by opening new routes that multiplied the company's turnover tenfold. After the bankruptcy of Isnasa and Flebasa, Mr. Utor's experience and leadership skills, and the commitment of a select group of people, led to the creation of Baleària. It was founded on 20 June 1998, with 16 founding partners and 126 workers. From the outset, the company has been committed to new technologies, constantly improving the fleet and opening new lines. In 2005, Baleària merged with Umafisa, owned by the Matutes family, with Utor remaining the majority shareholder until the end of 2021, when he became the sole shareholder. 

Today, Baleària is the leading shipping group in Spain with almost 25 years of history in the maritime transport of passengers, vehicles and goods, with routes that link the Peninsula with the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla on a daily basis. It is also the only maritime company that links the four islands in the Balearic archipelago. Internationally, it operates in the north of Africa (Morocco and Algeria) and the south of France, and it links the United States and the Bahamas.

The company's growth is based on its awareness of being a local shipping company with an international outlook and on the conviction that Baleària is not just an economic agent. “Baleària is so much more than its income statement. It is a common good, a social agent that builds bridges between territories, facilitates the movement of people and the exchange of goods, culture, and knowledge”, says Adolfo Utor, who is convinced that good companies make societies flourish. “Responsible, committed companies with a soul”, he says regarding Baleària, which aligns with the values of ethics, responsibility, innovation, solvency, and sustainability.

Its mission has been to renew every day its commitment to the welfare of the citizens of the territories in which this maritime company operates. Baleària aspires to be a good company, committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, an eco-efficient fleet, and digital transformation. Mr. Utor defines this philosophy as “green heart and intelligent spirit”.

Adolfo Utor is a born leader and, as such, he emphasises that there is no personal or business leadership without a project or a team. With the same energy and enthusiasm from the beginning, the president of Baleària continues to work to ensure that the maritime company he manages will keep on conquering new ports. It is no coincidence that he names his ships after women such as Hypatia of Alejandría, Marie Curie and Eleanor Roosevelt, all pioneers and civil rights activists. With these important gestures, Utor and Baleària express their tribute and their commitment to modernity, innovation, and excellence. It is a declaration of principles by Adolfo Utor, a man passionate about the sea, Dénia, and Baleària.