Álvaro Sobrinho
Álvaro de Oliveira Madaleno Sobrinho | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 Angola |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, banking professional |
| Known for | Director at Banco Espírito Santo; Executive Chairman at Banco Valor Angola; owner of Sporting CP stake; founder of Planet Earth Institute Foundation |
Álvaro de Oliveira Madaleno Sobrinho (born in 1962) is a Portuguese-Angolan entrepreneur and banking professional who built his career primarily in Portugal. He served as a director at the now-defunct Portuguese financial institution Banco Espírito Santo. Subsequently, Sobrinho took the helm at Banco Valor Angola, expanding his investment portfolio across various African markets. Additionally, he has held ownership interests in the sports organization Sporting CP and two Portuguese print media outlets. He also established the Planet Earth Institute Foundation in Mauritius, collaborating with the nation's president.
Early life and education
Originating from Angola, Sobrinho relocated to Portugal to pursue higher education in mathematics and statistics at Universidade Nova de Lisboa. During his time in Portugal, he received mentorship from prominent banker Ricardo Salgado.
Career
Following a decade-long tenure with Grupo Banco Espírito Santo, Sobrinho advanced to become a director of Banco Espírito Santo (BES) in Lisbon at age 38, playing a key role in launching its Angolan branch. In 2013, he assumed the position of Executive Chairman at Banco Valor Angola, before stepping down to concentrate on wider investment activities. Banco Valor is recognized as the 13th-largest banking institution in Angola.
In July 2014, Expresso revealed that during Sobrinho’s leadership, Banco Espírito Santo Angola (BESA) had issued loans amounting to US$5.7 billion—approximately 80% of its total debt—prior to his departure in October 2012. In 2015, he was exonerated from accusations connected to the bank’s failure and has since sought redress against the Expresso publication.
Personal life
Sobrinho's portfolio includes telecommunications investments through YooMee Africa and media holdings via the Newshold Group, as well as ventures in publishing, manufacturing, retail, travel, and renewable energy sectors. In 2015, he broadened his business activities to include exploration drilling operations in Ethiopia and Kenya.
He is the proprietor of Holdimo, which by August 2017 possessed a substantial private ownership interest in the Portuguese football club Sporting CP. In 2018, both Sobrinho and Holdimo sought to depose Sporting's then-president, Bruno de Carvalho, in response to the team's unsatisfactory results and fan unrest following an event at the Academia Sporting training facility.
Sobrinho serves as the founding chairman of the Planet Earth Institute (PEI), headquartered in London and recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme, which advocates for scientific autonomy across Africa. In 2015, he was designated Business Champion for African Science by the World Bank.
His philanthropic efforts extend to African-focused organizations such as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award and the GAVI Alliance. Additionally, in 2015, PEI established a foundation in Mauritius with former President Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as vice-chairperson, providing scholarships to support researchers based in Mauritius.
Estoril Sol
During his chairmanship at Banco Espírito Santo Angola (BESA), Portuguese authorities probed Sobrinho regarding his acquisition of six apartments within Lisbon’s Estoril Sol Residence complex through an offshore entity, involving an initial payment of €9.5 million. The properties were temporarily confiscated by judicial order but subsequently returned to him due to insufficient evidence.
Monte Branco
Sobrinho held shares in Swiss wealth management company Akoya Asset Management, which became subject to investigation amid the Monte Branco tax evasion scandal. He requested a Swiss inquiry that ultimately exonerated him and all non-executive shareholders from any misconduct.