Blog

Women Who Lead: Maria Franco’s Journey to Head of Branch Operations

31 March 2026

As this year’s Women’s Month comes to a close, we’re proud to spotlight Maria Franco, who has recently taken her next step as Head of Branch Operations for Spain and Portugal at AUTO1 Group. Over the past nine years, Maria has steadily grown through a series of roles — showing how embracing new opportunities, tackling challenges, and supporting your team can lead not only to personal growth, but also to impactful leadership.

Maria’s Career Evolution
For some, career paths are carefully orchestrated; for others, they unfold in unexpected ways. After earning her Business degree, Maria joined the company in 2016, drawn in by the automotive sector’s dynamic environment. What began as a Supporter role at the compramostucoche.es branch in Madrid quickly became a launchpad for learning. She immersed herself in fast-paced purchasing operations, absorbing not just the technical side of the business but also what it means to work with customers and the operational rhythm of a branch.

Those early days were pivotal in shaping the company’s customer-centric approach. Maria remembers guiding customers through the then-new process of leaving their vehicles in exchange for prompt payment: “Building trust with customers was the most important part of every interaction. With each transaction, I learned invaluable lessons—like the importance of patience, resilience, and clear communication. These skills remain central to how we work with customers today.”

With experience under her belt, Maria rose to become a Supporters Coordinator at the end of 2017, creating process manuals, rolling out training, and improving quality control across teams. By 2021, she was entrusted with leading the new Branch Operations department for Iberia. Building a multidisciplinary team from scratch tested her leadership but also her commitment to shaping a positive, high-performing culture. Reflecting on her journey, she shares: “Everything I have learned over the years, the people I have worked with, and the experiences we have shared in each stage have played a huge role in my development. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by professionals from whom I have learned continuously, through training, informal conversations, or simply by observing how they work.”

Leadership By Example
Now at the helm of Branch Operations in Spain and Portugal, Maria channels everything she’s learned into empowering her team and delivering sustainable results. “My vision is to bring the department to its full potential, both in terms of internal efficiency and impact on results. The focus is on consolidating structures, optimizing processes at a European level, and promoting continuous improvement.”

Key to her growth has been the encouragement and trust of her colleagues and managers. “Since the beginning, I have had the support of my managers, who have trusted my work, given me autonomy and guided me when needed.” She is committed to passing this support forward, creating an environment where others can thrive, take ownership, and realize their own potential.

Maria’s approach to leadership and career growth is both pragmatic and inspiring—a mindset she encourages all women, and anyone early in their career, to adopt: “Focus on the present, give your best at every stage, and make the most of every learning opportunity. Professional growth is a process, and building a strong foundation at every stage is key to moving forward.”

As we close Women’s Month, we celebrate the many women who are driving our company forward. Want to shape the future of automotive with us? Explore our careers page and discover how you can be part of a diverse and ambitious team. We welcome applicants of all genders, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds to apply.