Draft:José Elías Navarro

Francisco José Elías Navarro (born in Badalona, 1976) is a Catalan businessman associated with Futbol Club Barcelona.

Elias was born in the Sant Crist de Can Cabanyes neighborhood of Badalona, in a working-class family. He was the son of José Elías Sans, a young electrician, and Mariana Navarro Ruiz, who was separated from her husband. As a child, Elias experienced his parents' argument, which led his father to take him to Cardedeu. His mother found him after two years and decided to give him the name of her ex-husband. This is why Elias used Barrios as his first name for many years. In adulthood, he fought to reclaim his original name and succeeded at the age of 39, thanks to his father acknowledging him in his will.

Trained as an industrial engineer, he experienced failure with the first companies he created, not just once but twice. However, after recovering, he became one of Spain's wealthiest individuals. In 2000, he founded Audax Renovables, an energy company, and became its majority shareholder, holding 90% of the shares. He also serves as the company's president. During his tenure, the company's market value has quintupled, reaching 1 billion euros. In 2016, he was honored with an award from the Associació de Joves Empresaris de Catalunya. Elias also holds investments in various sectors, including telecommunications, renewable energies, infrastructure, medicine, and food.

In March 2021, he became known as one of Joan Laporta's financial backers for his candidacy for the presidency of FC Barcelona. Elias was unable to join the club's board of directors because he had been a member of Barça for only one year. However, Eduard Romeu, the vice-president of Audax, joined the board. Both Elias and Romeu stated that their support for Laporta was on a personal basis and that they did not intend to control the club. Eduard Romeu, as the vice-president of Audax, is a member of the club's board of directors.

In July of the same year, he became the sole shareholder of the frozen food chain La Sirena through his company, Excelsior Times, aiming to launch a business line focused on healthy food. The capital injection into La Sirena is part of a strategy for growth and expansion in the Spanish market.