Jonathan Andic, son of the Mango founder Isak Andic, is stepping down temporarily as the fashion group’s vice-chair after being named a suspect in the investigation into his father’s death.

In an open letter published on Tuesday, Andic strongly protested his innocence, saying the accusation bore “no relation to reality”, but that “dismantling it” would take a long time.

“A public narrative has been constructed that is one-sided, taken out of context and distorted, and which has created a perception of guilt that bears no relation to reality. I know that dismantling it will require time, effort and intense dedication,” Andic said.

A Spanish court named Andic as a suspect last week. Isak Andic died in December 2024 after falling more than 100 metres (330ft) from a cliff while the two were hiking in the mountains outside Barcelona. The judge’s writ said there was evidence to suggest the death may not have been accidental and that Jonathan Andic “played an active and premeditated role”.

Jonathan Andic was named executive vice-president of Mango’s holding company in January 2025, about six weeks after his father’s death. Mango’s board issued a statement on Tuesday expressing “full confidence that the legal proceedings will be resolved favourably and trust that this will happen as swiftly as possible”.

The judge’s writ said the relationship between father and son had deteriorated owing to Jonathan Andic’s obsession with money, and his WhatsApp messages had expressed “feelings of hatred, resentment and thoughts of death, and blaming his father for his situation”.

Jonathan Andic, 45, disputed that. In his open letter, he said: “We shared many happy, cherished and loving moments together. As is the case in so many families, we have also faced difficult and challenging times, which we have overcome through great effort, generosity and support.”