Inditex co-founder Rosalia Mera dies aged 69

Rosalia Mera, the co-founder of Spanish fashion group

Inditex that owns Zara, and the richest woman in Spain, has died at the age of 69 after suffering a stroke in Menorca. According to Spanish media, Mera suffered a stroke while on holiday and was flown back to a private hospital in Coruna, northern Spain, where she died Thursday evening.

Mera was the ex-wife of Inditex founder Amancio Ortega, and together they built the company into one of the world’s biggest retailers. Besides Zara, the Inditex group owns Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear and Bershka brands.

In a statement the company said: “The Inditex Group is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Rosalia Mera. The group wishes to send its sincere condolences to her loved ones and friends at this extremely difficult time, after the loss of a person who contributed so much to the origins and development of the company.”

Mera left the board of directors of Inditex in 2004 but still held a 7 percent stake in the company.