Alexandre Soares dos Santos
Alexandre Soares dos Santos | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 23, 1935 Porto, Portugal |
| Died | August 16, 2019 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Longtime director of Jerónimo Martins |
Alexandre Soares dos Santos (23 September 1935 – 16 August 2019) was a prominent Portuguese entrepreneur who directed the retail company Jerónimo Martins for four and a half decades, succeeding his father until November 2013.
Biography
Soares dos Santos completed his education at Colégio Almeida Garrett in Porto and briefly pursued law studies at the University of Lisbon. He then began his career with the Unilever Group, gaining experience in Ireland, Germany, and eventually serving as marketing director in Brazil in 1968. Upon the passing of his father—the founder of the Jerónimo Martins Group—in 1969, he returned to Portugal to join the company’s board. Established in 1792 and under the control of the dos Santos family since 1921, the group faced economic difficulties following the 1974 Carnation Revolution but continued to operate major Portuguese retail chains like Pingo Doce and Recheio.
During the late 1980s, Soares dos Santos oversaw Jerónimo Martins' initial public offering and spearheaded growth through acquisitions such as Iglo and Feira Nova. He also expanded the company’s footprint internationally to markets including the UK, the Netherlands, and especially Poland. In Poland, Jerónimo Martins launched the brand Biedronka, which has become the country's top food retailer with more than 2,000 outlets. He relinquished his leadership role in November 2013.
In 2009, he established the Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, named after his father, which is dedicated to promoting equal opportunities, democracy, and strengthening civil society within Portugal. His distinguished honors include receiving the Grand Crosses of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique, the Order of Merit, and the Order of Entrepreneurial Merit.
Married since 1957 to Maria Teresa Canas Mendes da Silveira e Castro, they had seven children—two of whom are engaged in corporate leadership—and as of 2012, eighteen grandchildren.
Alexandre Soares dos Santos died on 16 August 2019.