An appointment that recognises her decisive support for promoting Cocido de Lalín in Madrid, with the presentation of the Fair as a Festival of International Tourist Interest at the Casa de la Panadería in 2022, and her track record in promoting tourism internationally.
The Councillor for Tourism of the Madrid City Council joins the list of confirmed commendators: the town crier Diego González Rivas; Irene Villa; Ramiro Mejuto, Luis de la Fuente and Jorge Mira.
The mayor of Lalín, José Crespo, announced today at Madrid Fusión the appointment of Almudena Maíllo del Valle as the new Commander of the Cocido. In this regard, the mayor indicated that "the appointment of Almudena Maíllo is in response to the support and collaboration she provided us from the Madrid City Council as Councillor for Tourism, together with Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, also a commander, for the presentation of the Cocido Fair in Madrid, at the Casa de la Panadería, in the capital's Plaza Mayor in 2022, which was the first official event of the Cocido Fair under the declaration of Festival of International Tourist Interest and Spain's first international gastronomic festival". The distinction of Festival of International Tourist Interest was obtained in 2020, and in 2021 the celebrations were reduced due to the pandemic.
Crespo emphasised that ‘Almudena Maíllo represents the professionalisation of administration, strategic vision and the ability to promote projects that connect territories and people. She is an advocate of sustainable tourism, international cooperation and cultural promotion, values that fit perfectly with the essence of Encargo del Cocido’.
Born in Madrid in 1977, Maíllo has a degree in Business Studies from the Complutense University of Madrid, specialising in Financial Management and Accounting, and completed the Leadership Programme for Public Management at the IESE Business School.
Throughout her career, she has held positions of high responsibility, including:
Councillor for Tourism at Madrid City Council since 2019
Secretary General of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI) (2019-present)
Councillor President of the districts of Sano Blas-Canillejas, Moratalaz and Hortaleza at different stages
Director General of Tourism for the Community of Madrid (2007-2011)
Director General of Early Childhood and Primary Education for the Community of Madrid (2011-2012)
She also worked in the finance department of Dragados y Construcciones and taught in training programmes at the Madrid Chamber of Commerce.
Commanders confirmed to date
With this appointment, the Encargo del Cocido 2026 now has the following confirmed members:
Diego González Rivas, world-renowned thoracic surgeon and announcer of the 58th Cocido Fair
Irene Villa, writer, psychologist and leading figure in personal development
Ramiro Mejuto, a prominent businessman from Lalín in the industrial refrigeration sector
Luis de la Fuente, national football coach
Jorge Mira, physicist, science communicator and recipient of the Galicia Medal for Research
And now, Almudena Maíllo, Councillor for Tourism at Madrid City Council and Secretary General of the UCCI
Each year, La Encomenda do Cocido recognises outstanding achievements in different fields that contribute to the prestige of Lalín, Galicia and the cultural and human values represented by the Cocido Fair.
