Pedro Queiroz Pereira
Pedro Queiroz Pereira | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 5, 1949 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Died | August 18, 2018 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, motorsport competitor |
| Known for | Leadership of Semapa, participation in Formula Two racing |
Pedro Queiroz Pereira (5 March 1949 – 18 August 2018) was a notable Portuguese entrepreneur and former motorsport competitor.
He was born in Lisbon and pursued his education at the Colégio Militar as well as the Higher Institute of Accounting and Administration of Lisbon, though he discontinued his academic path to dedicate himself fully to business ventures. Between 1975 and 1987, he resided in Brazil following his family’s relocation amid the Processo Revolucionário Em Curso. During his time there, he also participated in motor racing disciplines such as Formula Two, competing alongside Ayrton Senna.
Pedro Queiroz Pereira occupied executive positions within multiple family-owned enterprises involved in sectors including real estate, hospitality, agriculture, renewable energy, automotive, cement production, and prefabricated materials. His governance experience extended to board memberships at Hotel Ritz and Banco Espírito Santo. In 1995, he broadened the family's portfolio by acquiring the cement company Secil and subsequently securing a 30% shareholding in Portucel, a paper manufacturing firm. He presided over the boards of these firms and held leadership of both the board of directors and executive committee at Semapa.
On 6 November 2009, he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Business Merit - Industrial Merit Class in recognition of his contributions.
In 2015, leadership transitioned to João Castelo Branco, formerly a director at McKinsey Ibérica, who took over as CEO of Semapa. This change occurred alongside Semapa’s takeover bid (OPA) involving an exchange of shares for Portucel equity. The family holding company Sodim maintains control over 54.5% of Semapa, which itself owns a 75.8% stake in Portucel.
Pedro Queiroz Pereira passed away on 18 August 2018 at age 69 due to a heart attack while aboard his yacht near Ibiza.