For Fran, programming has always been a creative playground filled with exciting challenges, the most important of which is creating products that truly serve people.
Fran Naranjo, born and raised on the unique island of Tenerife, where he feels privileged to relish both nature and city life, fell in love with programming 20 years ago when he built his first web pages in FrontPage. He joined the Z1 team in 2022 and has since enjoyed helping our clients transform ideas into products—blending design, technology, and purpose—while continuing to learn from an inspiring community.
This year, as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’re proud to share that Fran Naranjo has been appointed as Z1’s new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Fran describes this moment as both a challenge and a privilege. “We’re immersed in a paradigm shift in the technology sector,” he explains. “And it’s not only a matter of new tools or methodologies: it’s a profound transformation that makes us rethink the essentials — what we do, how we do it, and why we are doing it."
Taking on the role of CTO at this moment is a huge milestone for Fran, but above all,"it’s a privilege", he says, "because I don't do it alone. This responsibility would be impossible to assume if I weren’t surrounded by a team I admire and trust. I have no doubt it will be demanding, but I also do not doubt that we are ready.”
“Taking on the role of CTO would be impossible to assume if I weren’t surrounded by a team I admire and trust.”
From Architecture to Software Development
His journey to his new role as Z1's CTO is anything but typical. Trained as an architect, Fran spent five years designing buildings before deciding to immerse himself in programming fully, right before the pandemic. Coding had always been close to him though — even during his architecture years, he would create small websites or use programming to improve his projects.
As he puts it, “architecture and development may look different, but they share the same foundation: understanding needs, organizing work, and creating something that truly serves people.”
This mindset has shaped his path at Z1. From the beginning, our motto — “Creativity is necessary, honesty is essential” — resonated deeply with him. “It isn't just a slogan; it is a North Star,” he affirms. “Today, several years later, one of the few certainties I have is that Z1's way of understanding work improves everything: relationships, trust, and the way we build products together.”
The power of teamwork
One lesson he insists on carrying into this new chapter is the power of teamwork. “No matter the size of the project, what makes everything work is the strength of the team. As the old proverb says: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” That spirit has been at the core of Z1 from the start, and as we reach a decade of crafting products with our partners, it feels more relevant than ever.
“Today, one of the few certainties I have is that Z1's way of understanding work improves everything: relationships, trust, and the way we build together.”
Last year, when we asked Fran to define Z1 in just two words, he chose Digital Gems — a phrase that has now become the claim for our 10th anniversary. It speaks to the products we craft and the people behind them, the Z1 team itself. With Fran stepping into the CTO role, we look forward to continuing to create those digital gems together and shaping the years ahead with purpose and ambition.
