Juan Ramírez Said: The Tejeda-Rooted Tech Boss Shaping Gran Canaria

In the landscape of Gran Canaria's economy, few voices carry the weight of Juan Ramírez Said. As president of the Círculo de Empresarios de Gran Canaria and the technology group Inetel, he is a familiar face in discussions about the island's future. He talks about competitiveness, digital growth, and the enduring weight of tourism with a directness that has made him a go-to commentator. But ask him about his own story, and the conversation soon winds its way uphill, away from the boardrooms of Las Palmas, to the steep streets and almond groves of Tejeda.

It is a connection he carries openly. On his father's side, his roots reach directly into that mountain municipality in the heart of Gran Canaria. This is not just a biographical footnote; it is a part of the narrative that local media have woven around him, presenting a figure who is as comfortable discussing the island's flavours and territory as he is analysing its economic indicators. He is, in many ways, a bridge between the cumbre and the coast, between tradition and a tech-driven future.

From a 1985 Tech Start to a Canarian Giant

Ramírez Said's professional story is not one of inherited transport routes, but of building digital highways. His career in technology began back in 1985, marking the start of a long journey that would see him become a central figure in the archipelago's TIC sector. The pivotal moment came in 1999 when he founded Contactel Teleservicios. What started as a venture in customer service grew over 25 years into a leader in information and communication technologies across the Canary Islands.

Contactel's growth was built on substantial contracts, becoming the backbone for essential public services. The company took on the management of calls for the regional government's Cibercentro and, crucially, handled the emergency 112 and information 012 lines for the Canarian administration. This placed his firm at the heart of daily life for islanders, a quiet but critical infrastructure role. The strategic merger of Contactel with Inerza later created INETEL Technologies, a group proudly described as the principal TIC business group with 100% Canarian capital. As its president, Ramírez Said now oversees a homegrown success story that offers technology solutions to both public and private clients.

The Voice of Gran Canaria's Business Community

His influence extends well beyond his own companies. In June 2024, he was elected president of the Círculo de Empresarios de Gran Canaria, succeeding Agustín Manrique de Lara. The role placed him at the forefront of the island's business representation, a platform from which he has not shied away from frank assessments. He has publicly stated that Gran Canaria is losing competitiveness due to what he calls an "obsolete" island government (Cabildo), a critique that made headlines and cemented his image as a straight-talking leader.

His vision for the Círculo is to strengthen the business fabric of the archipelago, promote a more competitive economic model, and contribute to the sustainable development of the Canary Islands. He is also a vice-president of the broader Canarian Confederation of Entrepreneurs, further amplifying his voice. In media interviews, he champions the technology sector as the most dynamic in the Canaries, while simultaneously cautioning that it is naive to speak of a true alternative to the tourism sector, given its overwhelming weight. This blend of tech advocacy and economic realism defines his public persona.

Tejeda in the Blood, the Island on a Plate

The link to Tejeda is more than a line in a biography; it is a lens through which he is often portrayed. A feature in the Canarian press once used him as a guide to "savour Gran Canaria," walking through the island's landscapes and culinary traditions. The article highlighted his paternal roots in Tejeda, framing him as someone intimately connected to the territory. This portrayal is of a man whose mixed heritage—Canarian with a Palestinian maternal grandfather—gives him, in his own words, a clear-eyed way of seeing reality.

This personal narrative of deep roots and a broad worldview is a powerful one. It presents a business leader who is not detached from the island's soul but is a product of it. The mountain village of Tejeda, known for its dramatic caldera views and almond blossom, is a world away from a call centre or a corporate boardroom. Yet for Ramírez Said, these two worlds are not in conflict; they are part of a single, coherent identity as a Canarian entrepreneur who has built a modern success story without forgetting the ground beneath his feet.

A Legacy Built on Digital Services, Not Diesel

While his story is deeply rooted in the Gran Canaria highlands, it is important to clarify what the public record shows. The available profiles and interviews focus entirely on his technology and business leadership journey. They speak of founding companies, leading business organisations, and shaping economic debate. The romantic notion of a business leader who personally kept a village supply truck running is a compelling one, but it does not appear in the documented story of Juan Ramírez Said.

His tangible legacy is found in the digital infrastructure he helped build—the 112 emergency lines answered, the customer service centres operated, the 100% Canarian tech group he now leads. His connection to Tejeda is one of blood and heritage, a source of identity and, perhaps, the straightforward character he brings to public life. It is a story of a man from the mountains who made his mark in the city, not by driving a truck, but by building a digital network that connects the entire archipelago.